Immigration agents arrest overstaying Israeli as he attempts to leave PH

Fake passport of a 28-year-old Israeli arrested by immigration officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 (Photo courtesy of Bureau of Immigration)

MANILA, Philippines —  An Israeli was arrested by Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents at Ninoy Aquino International Airport for trying to leave the country using a fake passport.

The border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) of BI said the 28-year-old Israeli was en route to Denpasar, Indonesia on Wednesday when he was intercepted by immigration officers.

They noticed “glaring irregularities” in the traveler’s passport.

“When asked by the immigration officer how and where he obtained the said passport, the passenger readily admitted that he procured the same from a fixer for a fee of P10,000,” BI-BCIU overall deputy chief Joseph Cueto said in a press release.

The foreigner, who is of Filipino descent, was also found to be overstaying in the country.

The traveler’s documents were checked in BI’s forensic documents laboratory, where it was confirmed that the papers were counterfeit.

“The use of these spurious passports will no longer work as immigration officers are trained and adept in detecting fraudulent travel documents,” Cueto said.

The Israeli is detained at a BI facility in Bicutan, Taguig city.