The Bureau of Immigration has warned syndicates it is on the lookout for fake Department of Foreign Affairs endorsements.
The warning stemmed from intelligence reports that syndicates plan to use fake DFA endorsements to allow the entry of people who are temporarily restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Foreign Affairs suspended the issuance of visas in March, but may exempt those covered by the suspension on very meritorious or humanitarian grounds.
“We have received intelligence reports with pictures that these syndicates are trying to falsify documents to allow the entry of those currently restricted,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.
“Don’t even try. We have a smooth verification process with other government agencies that makes it easier to confirm if the document you will present is a fake.”
Morente cited an earlier attempt of a shipping agency to falsify a DFA endorsement in favor of a seafarer who disembarked early and wanted to stay in a hotel upon arrival instead of proceeding directly to his outbound flight.
According to Morente, both Foreign Affairs and Immigration suspended the processing of all applications of the shipping agency, with Immigration moving to blacklist the company.
Only Filipinos, their spouses and minor children are now allowed to enter the country with tourist visas. Filipinos’ foreign children with special needs, the foreign parents of minor Filipinos, and the foreign parents of Filipino children with special needs are likewise allowed to enter the country.
Morente said those eligible to enter the Philippines were required to secure an entry visa from Philippine embassies or consulates.