For the past few months, foreigners and OFWs have been afraid of visiting the Philippines because of the various scams happening in the airports, particularly NAIA. However, just when we thought we were in the clear, a new scam might just be brewing.
An anonymous source shared a story of this new modus in NAIA with WhenInManila.com a few days ago. Read their post below.
Photo taken from wikipedia.org
“Mag-iingat sa mga bagong modus matapos ang laglag bala cases sa mga airport sa Pinas
Sa mga magta-travel papuntang Japan or sa mga lalabas ng Pinas papunta ng ibang bansa lalo na this Christmas season, be aware on this dahil mukhang meron na namang kumakalat na bagong modus sa airport sa Pinas now.
Ayon sa story ng mga biktima nito na nag-send ng message sa amin asking for advise and consultation, sila ay nahaharang sa airport immigration kahit na meron na silang proper visa dahil lamang sa isang document na hinahanap sa kanila kung kayo ay papasok ng Japan bilang tourist or family visit visa. Dahil sa pagharang na ito, mahuhuli kayo sa inyong flight at kakailanganin nyo ulit bumili ng ticket for your flight.
They are asking for AFFIDAVIT of INVITATION LETTER na makukuha from Philippine Embassy daw at kapag wala kang maipapakita nito, dadalhin ka sa isang room for interrogation. Which will make you late for your flight.
I tried to check for this kind of documents kung meron mga MEMORANDOM about this sa Philippine Embassy in Japan, Japanese Embassy in the Philippines at DFA subalit wala namang mga news or info about this.
Actually this kind of documents is not needed at ang mga INVITATION LETTER na kailangang submit for visa application ay hindi rin kailangan pa ang authentication nito. Kailangan lang ang signature as a proof. Lastly, no need din ito na ipakita pa or dahil sa aiport immigration dahil sa Japanese Embassy lang ito dapat submit when you apply for visa. Kung tourist of family visit ka lang, ang passport mo with a visa on it lang ang kailangan.
Kung sakaling mangyari sa inyo ito, be sure na maipagtatanggol ninyo ang sarili by explaining your rights at kung ano ang tamang procedure na alam ninyo. Kung talagang di kayo papalusutin dahil lamang sa document na ito, kunin ninyo ang kanilang mga names, pictures at pagbabayarin (ticket charge) nyo sila sa pag-abala nila sa inyo dahil lamang sa document na hinahanap nila.
Napapansin ko lang din na mukhang dumarami ang mga ganitong cases kapag papalapit ang pasko sa Pinas. Mukhang marami ang gustong kumita ng additional income for Christmas celebration. So mag-iingat po dapat lagi.”
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Rough English Translation:
After the laglag-bala scam, beware of the new modus happening in Philippine airports.
To those traveling, especially this Christmas season to Japan our to other countries outside the Philippines, be aware of this because it seems like there is a new modus spreading in the Philippine airports now.
According to a story submitted asking for advise and consultation from our company, the victims were stopped at the airport’s immigration despite having the proper visas for traveling just because of one document that was asked of them if entering Japan as a tourist or family. Because of this, you will most likely miss your flight and will need to buy a new ticket.
They are asking for AFFIDAVIT of INVITATION LETTER that they claim you can only get from the Philippine Embassy. If you cannot show this, you will be brought to another room for interrogation which may cause you to be late or miss your flight.
I tried to check for this kind of documents and see if there is a memorandum about it in the Philippine Embassy in Japan or Japanese Embassy in the Philippines, however I couldn’t find any news or information about it.
These documents are actually no longer needed, moreover, the invitation letter that is submitted for visa application need not be authenticated further. A signature is all that’s needed for proof. Lastly,there is no need to show this in the airport’s immigration because you only need to present this at the Japanese Embassy when you apply for a visa. If you are visiting as a tourist, all you need to present is your passport with the visa.
In case something like this happens to you, make sure to defend yourself by explaining your rights and showing knowledge of the proper procedures. If you are still not allowed in, take note of their names and even take their photos so that you can have them pay your ticket charge for the hassle they caused you.”
Yikes, another modus? When traveling make sure to know all the important details and requirements before even stepping foot in the airport. That way, you can easily defend yourself no matter what.
Has something like this ever happened to you? Do share your experience so we can warn more people.
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lalo na kung traveler na na freelancer sa pinas, at sa destination mo wala kang kamag-anak, pagsu-suspetsahan ka agad na magti-tnt ka or involved ka sa human trafficking. lol
Happened to me once when going to HK(first time as a tourist).
Immigration officer ask first how long will I stay in HK, I said 10 days(with flight itinerary copy).
Where will I stay, I said to my relatives.
Then he asks for the invitation letter, I said “ano un? kailangan ba un? ngayon ko lang nadinig na merong ganung letter”.
Then he asks to show my company id and then he let me through.
I ask what is the invitation letter for before leaving, he explains that they may require it if they think I am not capable(money wise I think) of making a visit to HK as a tourist.
Sabi ko, so kung wala ko dala invitation letter and you think hindi ako capable, hindi mo ko papaalisin? He said, yes.
Then I never argued na kasi baka harangin pa ko.
I think hindi sya modus and the invitation letter seems to not be required depende sa assessment sayo, part siguro ng interrogation procedure nila.
Pero it still sucks to be at their mercy for something as simple as visiting other countries.
It happened to my sister when she first came to Australia 2010 ang name nung humarang sa kanya was certain name called Camille Reyes. Noong time na yun tamang tama tumawag ako sa kanya dahil sinisiguro ko na nasa waiting area na siya before im going to bed, well to make the story short ang ginawa ko tumawag ako sa mismong immigration dyan sa airport at hinanap ko ang manager nila at yong Camille Reyes na nagharang sa kanya ay biglang nawala kasi tumawag ulit ako sa kapatid ko tinanong ko kausapin ko yong humarang sayo sabi niya umalis daw…buti nalang habang kausap ko yong kapatid ko in bisayan dialect naririnig pala noong isang immigration lady na naka duty din at sabi sa kanya halika dito ako na mag tatak ng passport mo pabayaan mo yon ganoon talaga yon. talagang may mga kalukuhan dyan sa airport matagal na haharangin tapus ma dedelayed ang flight mo. One more thing every time uuwi ako dyan sa pinas mga security guards mukhang pera sasalubong sayo sabi agad wala ba tayong pang cape dyan maam.
Ganito din ang nangyari sakin last november 29. Papunta ako ng china that time tas gusto nila ipa authenticate nung nag invite skin ung papers niya tas hiningian pa ako ng affidavit of support nung nag invite. It was a traumatic experience. Complete documents ako, workig permit, visa copy ng working visa niya, passport copy, remmittances, conversations and pictures, plus invitation letter with signature. Then ganyan gjnawa skin. Inoffload ako. Super traumatic talaga. Ngayon d namin alam gagawin for that authentication thing na yan!
Bakit hindi pa din ina-alis ang mga kumag na Security ng Air-port sa NAIA, halata naman na hindi kay ng pamunuan ang mga taong swapang dyan ha President Nonoy ,ano pa iniintay mo? Tanggalin mo muna at palitan para mawala ang agam-agam ng mga pasahero! at ibalik ang matino. Ang hirap ba President Nonoy?