DFA warns public on ‘travel exemption’ scams

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday warned the public against scams involving the sale of fake travel exemption letters for exorbitant fees.

The department advised the public to be cautious of “unscrupulous individual/s or group/s issuing fake DFA travel exemption letters” and “offering travel exemption services to foreign nationals who wish to enter the Philippines.”

These individuals or groups reportedly charge excessive fees to foreign nationals in exchange for such travel documents and services, the DFA said in an advisory.

According to the DFA, it does not collect any “travel exemption” fee or charge from foreign nationals “permitted to enter the country in accordance with the protocols, directives, and exemptions laid down by the [Inter-agency Task Force] and the Office of the President.”

“The public is therefore advised to be vigilant and wary of such illegal services or fake documents,” it said.

Further, the DFA asked the public to report to the department, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police anyone involved in such fraudulent activity, including illegal passport facilitation to foreign nationals.

So far, the government temporarily banned foreign travelers from nearly 30 countries from entering the Philippines due to the new Covid-19 variant.

These countries include the UK, China, the United Arab Emirates, among others.

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