BI intercepts alleged mail-order bride at Naia

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino woman suspected of being a mail-order bride was intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Tuesday.

According to the BI, the 25-year-old woman was intercepted on Dec. 7 when she was supposed to board an Air China flight to Beijing.

READ: BI foils possible trafficking of Thailand – bound couple

Prior to boarding, the woman was referred by primary inspectors to the bureau’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-Probes) for secondary checks where she claimed she was visiting her Chinese husband, whom she identified only as ‘Wang’ and met online through a common friend in 2024. 

The BI said she claimed that they married in September 2025 “in a restaurant,” but could not provide specific details about the ceremony.

I-Probes officers then noted numerous inconsistencies between her statements and the documents she submitted.

The woman eventually admitted she had no knowledge of the legal requirements for marriage and that it was her aunt who processed all documents in exchange for a P60,000 payment.

“This is a clear case of a mail-order bride scheme,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado in a statement.

“These arrangements trap victims in exploitative situations abroad—many end up unpaid, abused, and unable to seek help. We urge the public not to fall for these fraudulent offers,” he added.

The woman has since been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further investigation and assistance, said the BI. /mr