Pinay barred from leaving Philippines over fake certificate

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipina bound for Malta was prevented from leaving the country on Nov. 11 after she presented a fake Commission on Filipinos Overseas-Guidance and Counseling Program (CFO-GCP) certificate that she initially claimed was provided by her Maltese employer.

The woman was initially referred for secondary inspection for not possessing an overseas employment certificate (OEC) despite acknowledging her intention to work in Malta, according to Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are required to get an OEC as it ensures their proper documentation and protection while working abroad, the BI said.

Upon secondary inspection, the woman admitted that she was traveling to Malta to work as a live-in caregiver. One of the documents she presented was a fake CFO-GCP certificate, which is required of first-time Filipino migrants but not OFWs.

Tansingco said the woman later said she obtained the documents, including the fake certificate, from someone she met on the internet.

Meanwhile, the BI said that it denied entry to 2,778 undesirable aliens and improperly documented foreigners during the first 10 months of the year.

Of the total number, 696 were Chinese. There were also 414 Vietnamese, 214 Indonesians, 204 Americans and 138 Indians.

A majority of the foreigners attempted to enter via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Tansingco said.

The BI said that in 2022, it barred 2,768 foreigners, 52 percent of whom were likely to become a public charge while 20 percent were excluded for being improperly documented.