INQUIRER file photo / ALEXIS CORPUZ
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intercepted a Canadian man who presented a Philippine passport but could not speak Filipino or any Philippine dialect. Travel Control and Enforcement Unit acting head Ann Camille Mina said the 49-year-old foreign-looking suspect, who attempted to depart for Taiwan via an Eva Air flight at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, was likewise unable to answer basic questions about his identity. Verification in the BI’s database revealed that the suspect had multiple travels in the country using Canadian and Hong Kong passports, and is a holder of a permanent residence visa. He later admitted that it was his lawyer who processed his birth certificate for the application of his Philippine passport. The suspect faces charges for violation of the Philippine Immigration Act.