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.
Just be extra careful when in Manila. I remember my very own experience when I was leaving the Philippines in 2010 after my visit to my family. I got to the international airport by midnight. Went straight to international airport after my local flight landed at the local airport. My flight to the United States that morning is at 6. As I was trying to get into the gate, following other foriegners, I was stop by the security guard, asking for my passport and travel document. The moment they saw the time for my flight I was inform that I am not allowed inside the airport till morning 2 hours prior to my departure. But the security personnel said “ma’am pwede niya paipit c ninoy sa passport niyo, makakapaghintay posted kayo sa loob”. I don’t know how many of you may have this very same experience at NAIA but this type of events is harap harapan na action of the people who is supposed to protect not just travellers but also the safety of the country main port. In the end I waited outside that night, I refuse to embrace and feed corruption that is slam right in front our country biggest airport.
Not only that I experience such bad experience that night when in the Philippines. That night was very memorable. There was one ofw of which I believe was first time going out of the country and was directly invited by her employer. And oh boy, I don’t think I have enough space here to write her story. Poor ofw, she was in a lot of tears that night. Personnel at NAIA was not very helpful with her case at that time.
Dapat kse sampulan yang mga buwaya dyan sa airport..ipako sa krus na patiwarik..hanggat maubus na sila dyan at di na tularan
Wag magpapaloko! Sabihin nyo sabay sampal na ang letter of invitation is used in seeking for a Japanese visa! So if may visa ka na, ano pang silbi ng letter of invitation? Di naman iisuehan ng Japanese visa without it…unless you go there on a group tour which doesn’t need a letter of invitation. Yun ang sabihin nyo sa mga PI na taga NAIA!
Nangyare rn po sa akin yan..1991..Dec. 17…I was invited by my cousin sa Germany..ok nang lahat..pgdating ko sa immigration..hinihingan ako ng proof ng work ko, leave of absence, efc.. sabu ko waka akong dala kc nasubmit ko ng lahat sa German embassy..wala naman akong dalang copy kc nga sabi ko may visa na ako.
.Di rw pwede.. kc rw for sure mg ttnt ba ako ron. naalaka ko may dala akong office Id..sabiko may daka akong office id..kung ok un .sabi nia cge tingnan natin..paglabas ko ngI id ko bigla sabe Ma’m wag nio na pong ipapakita yang id nio..sabe e kung may humingi ulet na jatukad mo…naku wala na Ma’m.. (that i was working at the MTC so id ko is fr. SC.)..so un sya ang nagulat
Grab a cab is good system. At least u know the fare cost as u make ur booking. And you can just pay cash for ur ride… But otherwise ignor the many request for airport taxi and go to the meter taxi queue at the airport… From airport to Resorts world by meter cost less than 300 peso