MANILA, Philippines —The Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) have foiled an attempt to use fake travel documents by a passenger who was about to leave the country.

Immigration authorities said the passenger was caught because the BI and DMW database systems have been interconnected making it doubly hard for illegal and undocumented workers or victims of human trafficking to get through.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said over the weekend that a male passenger attempted to leave the country using a fake Overseas Employment Certificate at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The man was about to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Hong Kong at the NAIA Terminal 3 when officers flagged his documents for verification.

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“He presented an OEC showing employment as an administrative officer in Hong Kong,” said Viado. “Upon checking, it was immediately found to be fake and originally issued to another individual.”

The man was prevented from boarding and is now undergoing further investigation.

Authorities believe the spurious document was obtained through illegal online sellers who have been targeting aspiring overseas workers.

Viado warned that the use of fraudulent documents not only violates immigration and labor laws but also exposes travelers to risks of exploitation and human trafficking.