Widow charged for claiming she is single

CEBU, Philippines – A widow was criminally charged in court for misrepresenting herself as single when she applied for a Philippine passport even if she was already married to a Korean national.

Noemie Aspiras alias Noemie Nabatilan Felipe De Kwon was indicted for violation of the Republic Act 8239 otherwise known as the Philippine Passport Act. A P20, 000 bail was recommended for her temporary liberty.

Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Ernesto Narido, Jr. however dismissed the complaint for falsification of public documents that the National Bureau of Investigation earlier filed against her.

Aspiras, who operates BK Travel and Immigration Consultancy Agency, was charged by the NBI for assuming two identities when she applied for clearance and passport.

Aside from using the family name Aspiras wherein she claimed to be single, she also used Felipe De Kwon in applying for a passport at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

According to the investigation conducted by the NBI, the accused is originally a passport holder under the name Noenie Felipe De Kwon.

However, she applied for another passport using Aspiras as her family name and this time claiming to be single. She presented documents before the DFA when she claimed her second passport leading to her arrest last August 10.

"In claiming the passport, respondent presented her birth certificate and certificate of no marriage. This confirmed the fact that respondent made false statement in her application with intent to secure the issuance of said passport," Narido said. (THE FREEMAN)