MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Justice are now working on in uncovering “Fake Pinoys” as part of the agencies’ massive campaign to deport illegal aliens in the country
who reportedly use phony companies to obtain working visas.
As part of the stringent auditing of the BI’s verification and compliance division (VCD), the BI reported that a list of more than 100 companies are undergoing verification for alleged submission of spurious documents in their workers’ visa applications.
According to the report, these foreign nationals are suspected to have used the services of unscrupulous individuals who provided documents of fake companies.
In October this year, the BI relayed its initial findings to the Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla and has already initiated the cancellation of the visas for the alien workers petitioned by fake companies.
“We are one with the DOJ in our mutual desire to put an end to illicit practices that abuse the visa issuance system and likewise see the need to reorganize the way the Philippine government issues visas to foreign nationals both in and out the country,” the BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.
The internal auditing was prompted by massive raids of local law enforcement agencies uncovering scam hubs and prostitution dens posing as legitimate companies.
The BI chief has ordered the immediate blacklisting of foreign nationals petitioned by said fake companies who are outside the country. Those who are in the country, are ordered to leave and are included in the BI’s blacklist.
Tansingco also said that the accreditation of liaison officers who attempt to submit applications petitioned by fake companies may be revoked.
“This serves as a warning that we will not tolerate falsification of any kind. We are serious in our intent to rid the country of illegal aliens, and we will continue to run after those who attempt to coddle such violators,” the the BI chief added.
