Tourists warned on ‘extensions’

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr.: Warning. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. has warned foreign visitors against “fixers” who fake the agency’s arrival and departure visa extension stamps after two departing Chinese women with false immigration stamps on their passports were arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“This unscrupulous act of faking immigration stamps not only victimizes foreigners of their money, it deprives our government of much-needed revenues,” said David in a statement.

He advised foreign tourists to do business directly with Bureau of Immigration employees and not with strangers who promise to process their immigration papers faster and cheaper.

Investigation showed that one of the two Chinese visitors, identified as Lin Xiumei, was approached by a woman “fixer” when she went to the bureau’s main office in Intramuros, Manila, on August 6.

“The stranger offered to process Lin’s visa extension and asked for P78,000 in payment for the fees and her services,” BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang said.

The stamps turned out to be spurious when immigration officials at the airport examined her passport upon her departure on August 12.

Shao Xiusi, who stayed in Bukidnon, said she was victimized by a fellow Chinese, who offered to process her visa extension in Manila.

Shao, who said her passport was handed to her at the airport, said she did not pay the Chinese fixer who had agreed on payment only after her departure.—Jocelyn R. Uy