MANILA -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned of a scheme using children and family members to evade strict immigration inspection.

According to BI Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) Chief Ma. Timotea Barizo, they recently came across an aspiring overseas worker who attempted to travel with the minor child of his sponsor and his wife.

“Upon secondary inspection, we noted numerous red flags and inconsistencies in his statements,” said Barizo. “He did not have proper documentation to prove his purpose, and we highly suspect that this is only a guise to be able to depart the country and work
abroad,” she added.

Barizo then shared that they have already encountered many such attempts to cover up their true purpose of travel.

“Many times, these aspiring overseas workers are improperly documented, and some even have connecting flights to other countries that they don’t present during inspection,” she shared.

Meanwhile BI Commissioner Jaime Morente reminded aspiring overseas Filipino workers to ensure that they secure the proper documentation from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) before leaving the country.

“Legitimate OFWs get immediate assistance and protection from the government in case they encounter trouble in their countries of destination,” said Morente.

“Those who leave illegally become vulnerable and are prone to abuse, hence we remind those who wish to seek employment abroad to always secure their jobs through legitimate means,” he added. (BI)