MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intercepted two Filipino women at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) who attempted to leave the country using falsified departure stamps, the agency reported Thursday.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado lauded the interception, saying the bureau is intensifying efforts to combat passport forgery, which he said poses a threat to national security.

“Forgery tactics exploiting immigration controls will not be tolerated,” Viado said, noting the move is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s border security goals.

The first incident happened on May 28, when a 32-year-old woman tried to illegally board a Cebu Pacific flight to Thailand at NAIA Terminal 3. According to the BI, the operation was conducted in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation Airport International Airport Investigation Division (NAIA-IAID).

The woman claimed to have already completed immigration departure clearance and said she was a returning Customer Service Representative (CSR) for an offshore gaming company in Thailand. However, officers flagged her passport due to a suspicious departure stamp and referred her for further inspection.

A document forensic analysis confirmed that the stamp on her passport was counterfeit. Further investigation revealed that she met an alleged contact inside NAIA, who took her passport and returned it with the fake stamp.

She was turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation. She may face charges under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code for falsification, Article 177 for usurpation of authority, and possible violations of Republic Act No. 11862 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.

In a separate case, another woman, 31, was intercepted on June 3 at NAIA Terminal 3 while attempting to board a Jetstar flight to Singapore. She claimed to earn a living through TikTok content creation, which she said funded her solo four-day trip to Singapore.

However, immigration officers discovered a fake stamp on her passport during inspection. She was also turned over to the IACAT and is expected to face similar charges.

Viado reiterated the BI’s commitment to detecting and stopping such attempts.

“Our personnel remain vigilant and prepared to stop these crimes, protecting our borders from exploitation,” he said.