Falsification of document raps filed against Singaporean, Chinese

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration is set to file administrative and falsification of document charges against a Singaporean and two Chinese for allegedly using fake passports and used the Philippines as a transit point in order to enter Canada.

BI Associate Commissioner Enrique Galang identified them as Joana Lee May Lin, a Singaporean and suspected courier of the syndicate, and the two Chinese nationals Jeremy Lim Chee Siong and Jimmy Ong Lai Heng. The three foreigners were brought to the BI detention center in Taguig City. They would be deported to their respective countries once the criminal cases against them have been settled. Galang said that it was the airlines that reportedly informed them that the Singaporean Lin often traveled to the country and that she often acted as an interpreter for her companions.

The BI is now exploring the possibility if she is a member of an international human trafficking syndicate. Monday, she was seen with the Chinese Lim and Ong and even acted as their interpreter.

Trained members of the BI-Monitoring Compliance and Migration Group (MCMG) then arrested them at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 after discovering that Lim and Ong entered the country using Chinese passports but that they were supposed to take another flight to Canada reportedly using Singaporean passports. They reportedly paid $20,000 and $30,000 to facilitate the processing of their alleged bogus passports.

If you will notice that the pages of their passports were original, but a closer look showed that the front and back cover of the passports were replaced and it bore bigger stitches. The picture on the passport was also tampered with, Galang said.

The Singaporean’s passport was legitimate.

Galang added, “As of the moment, there are no indications that a Filipino aided them. There is also a need for further investigation to determine how long this has been going on.”

BI spokesman lawyer Floro Balato Jr. explained that the Chinese nationals used a Singaporean passport because Canada imposes more stringent rules if a foreigner is from China. While if they came from Singapore, the Canadian authorities would not even require visa.