Fixed marriage trafficking scheme alarming – BI

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has sounded the alarm over recent reports of intercepted trafficking victims who were being deceived to leave the country with their fake Chinese husbands and presenting real marriage certificates.

Immigration Deputy Spokesman Melvin Mabulac said there had been reports of «fixed marriages» involving Koreans, but the scheme has been suppressed.

Recently, the bureau raised concern about the re-emergence of the modus, following the interception of three victims of trafficking from January to February this year.

«Basically, we can [say] that this is their (syndicates') new modus operandi because we see similar names of persons bringing Filipinas abroad, without records that they have come back home,» Mabulac said in a public briefing.

On February 13, the immigration protection and border enforcement section (I-Probes) reported that a female attempted to depart for Xiamen as a tourist with a Chinese man she claimed to be her husband.

The marriage certificate presented indicated that the couple got married in Kamasi, Maguindanao last October 2022. However, further verification of the man's travel records showed that he was not in the country during the supposed wedding date.

«We have to understand that in our border inspection, we do not rely on the documents alone. The travelers are being questioned and will be verified in the system,» Mabulac said.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco suspected that it was another case of mail-order-bride scheme where women are made to travel with their pseudo-husbands to cover up the trafficking scheme.

The targets are aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who want to go abroad immediately and hassle-free.

«Most of the victims here are those looking for a job [abroad]. They are looking for a [fast and easy] way out, evading the Department of Migrant Workers. That's why we are reminding our fellows, if ever you are interested to work abroad, you need to go through the DMW process,» Mabulac said.

He reminded those who wanted to get married with foreigners to obtain a spouse or fiancé visa before going out of the country for their protection.

He said that the Commission on Filipinos Overseas will