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.
Nko matagal na nilang ginawng mudos yan mga buaya nga sila
I have similar experience. OFW ako sa UAE for 6 years na. In 2014 & 2015, dinala ko dalawang kapatid at saka pinsan dito. As requirement daw kukuha nang letter of affidavit and support sa phil emabassy pero pinagtataka ko bakit hindi pa rin ito sapat sa phil immigration natin to think ha kasama ko sila with documents supporting na kami ay magkakamag anak. Dami pa din tanong at bakit ang rude nila? Nakaka dismay lang kasi parang tayung mga pilipino wala nang karapatan para lumabas ng bansa! Ok na sa immigration booth, may tatak na sa passport eh d papala tapos yun. Bago pa maka enter sa departure may immigration pa pala. Nakakaluka diba? Hinarang kami at nung sinabi ko bakit tapos na kami sa immigration ah sagot ni ate eh taga immigration din ako. Ka loka lang sila mga mukhang pera. Nakakawala nang gana ang bansang pilipinas. Sana nga manalo si duterte at namay mawala na ang salot sa lipunan!
Naniniwala ako na matagal na din itong nangyayari. Nangyari ito sa ate ko at office mate ko papuntang SG this year lang. Yung bayaw ko ay OFW and treated his family to SG tour. Unfortunately, sa tagal hinintay ng ate ko yung takdang araw, maho-hold(up) lang pala sya sa immigration requiring some documents from DepEd since public teacher sya. Ang point is kung may requirements man na kailangan sana ay ipakalat nila sa lahat ng Ticketing office nationwide na need yon prior to flight. So para maihanda na lahat before sa araw ng alis at less hassle na. Kaso, mukhang sakit na sa Immigration ang rumaket sa kung ano-anong dahilan para ma hold(up) at ma delay ang isang pasahero. Ending ay maiiwan ng flight ang pasahero para kumuha ng panibagong ticket sa kagustuhang matuloy ang pasyal. Naniniwala ako na may commission yang mga hudas sa Immigration sa Ticketing office sa airport sa bawat pasaherong mahaharang nila.
nde na po bago yan… nangyari na sa amin last year yan… travel kmi ppnta singapore for a 3 day vacation hinold din kmi kc 1st timer tapos hinanap mga documents nung ppuntahan or titirhan nmin sa singapore… after nmin ma download documents from singapore galing dun sa contact nmin sa singapore ayaw pa din nla tanggapin hanggang na offload na kmi… ang kelangan lng pala nla is isang document or a piece of paper na pirmado nang POEA sa loob nang airport mismo…. after nun nagbook kmi ulet then pinaalis n kmi… kso we have to pay another ticket and we lost 1 day of the vacation
Yung paghingi ng additional documents depende rin sa reason mo pagpunta as touristt. Kahit nabigyan na ng visa may interview pa rin at pag hindi consistent ang sagot dun nagkakaroon ng problema