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.
Even Singapore din ganyan style.
I’ve been through this before when I went to Singapore for a job interview. My friends in Singapore already gave me a warning on what to expect. I pretended to be a tourist (which I was going to be anyways if I didn’t get the job). I was asked so many questions including what I do for a living (WTF?!). To cut the story short, I was allowed to get to my flight but it sucks to be a Filipino sometimes.
Pwede sigurong maglagay ng pre departure evaluation ang immigration natin, at pwedeng magpa evaluate within one week before the flight. Siguro maiwasan ang koruption sa NAIA.
That’s an old modus. Random lang sya at kung ano na rin ang maisipang matanong na documents na tingin nila alanganin mong iproduce. Yung iba pa nga dyan, nanghaharang o naninita on the way na sa boarding area.
I think hindi na luma ito. Ang karamihan sa immigration officer sa airport Terminal 1, 2 and 3 talagang nanghaharang. Intensyon talaga nilang i delay ang mga paalis ng bansa. I been their and experience it a few times. I was going to India for vacation, I know that Philippines and India has an agreement with regards to tourist that they can avail the VISA ON ARRIVAL. I know because I search and asked. But upon arriving to the Immigration of Terminal 1 they hold me and asked me why I am going to India without the visa and I explained to them that India have a VISA on ARRIVAL for all Philippine Resident that can avail for 30 days of stay. Immigration officer rudely said, Philippines doesnt honor it and they dont know about it…..They even keep asking how much money i have during this trip… I replied that I have $200 in my wallet all my credit cards and ATM. Do i need to withdraw and show them all to you?… I even call my friend in India to talk to them, they ask a proof of living in India to my friend…I didn’t let them get any money from me…I hold my ground and boarding time i was released……