MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested a 33-year-old Chinese national at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after she was allegedly found using a Filipino identity to enter the country.

The BI Intelligence Division apprehended the woman, identified only as alias “Lin,” on Aug. 7 at NAIA Terminal 1 following her arrival from China aboard a Xiamen Airlines flight.

The operation stemmed from intelligence information indicating that the Chinese national was allegedly using the Filipino identity “Lin.”

BI intelligence operatives conducted verification and further investigation upon her arrival and confirmed her identity through her Chinese passport bearing her Chinese name.

The woman was apprehended for alleged misrepresentation and fraud in violation of Philippine immigration laws. She was also considered an undesirable foreign national, according to the BI.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado commended the intelligence operatives for uncovering the alleged use of a Filipino identity and immediately apprehending the woman.

“Pretending to be Filipino is not a minor immigration violation—it is a serious threat to the integrity of our identity and government systems,” Viado said.

“Our agents will continue to hunt down foreign nationals who attempt to manipulate or abuse these systems. If you falsely claim to be Filipino, we will find you, expose the deception, and hold you accountable under Philippine law,” he added.

Viado said the case also highlights the importance of intelligence-driven enforcement in detecting discrepancies and verifying the identities of foreign nationals.

Alias “Lin” remains in BI custody at its holding facility while facing deportation proceedings.