MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers have arrested two foreign nationals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) for possessing forged travel documents.
In a statement on Thursday, the BI said its Border Control Investigation Unit (BCIU) intercepted Chinese national Zhang Yang, 30, at Naia, who attempted to leave the country on a Philippine Airlines flight to Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday.
During an immigration inspection, Zhang’s name was discovered to be included in the BI’s blacklist in violation of the conditions of his stay.
Immigration officers also found a suspected fake Philippine visa in his passport, which BI’s Forensic Documents Laboratory later confirmed as counterfeit.
Meanwhile, the BCIU also intercepted an Indian national named Malkeet Singh, 42, at the Naia Terminal 1 after he arrived on a Scoot Airline flight from Singapore using a counterfeit Philippine arrival stamp in his passport.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco lauded the BI agents who intercepted Zhang and Singh.
“We commend our alert personnel who were able to foil their attempt,” said Tansingco.
“We will ensure that upon deportation, they will not be able to return to the country,” he added.
Both were placed under arrest and will be detained at the BI’s Warden Facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig, pending their eventual deportation. — Meralyn Melitante, Inquirer.net trainee