3 Filipina ‘wives’ bound for Korea held

Three young women aged 18 and 19, who were bound for Korea together with their  ‘husbands,’ were  barred from leaving the country Thursday due to questionable travel documents, an immigration official said.

Dennis Opina, immigration duty supervisor, identified the women as Julie Fernandez, Jean Loiese Villegas and Mary Grace de la Cruz.

An airport source said the three women were barred from boarding the Asiana Airlines after immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport suspected that their marriage visas could have been manufactured.

Upon questioning,  the young women admitted they were paid by the Korean nationals to pretend as their ‘wives’ while  in the Philippines.

“Part of that agreement was for the three of them to go to Korea when they return to their country and work there,” he added.

Opina said the women were first time travellers and had no work experience.

He said that the three women initially admitted they were on their way to Korea for an arranged wedding.

Opina said the girls were held due to suspected violation of the Anti-Mail-Order Bride law under the anti-human trafficking provision.

A source said the Korean nationals who were accompanying the three women were allowed to leave.

In their statements to immigration officials, the women said they met the Koreans through a recruiter.

They said they were paid P300,000 each by the Koreans to pretend to be their wives so the Koreans could stay longer in the country.

Part of the agreement was for the Filipino women to go to Korea as their wives so they could work legally in Korea.