NBI tasked to probe resurgence of 'mail-order bride' scheme

(File photo)

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the resurgence of the mail-order bride schemes where Filipino women marry expatriates for a fee or the prospect of migrating.

In a message to reporters, Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano said the move comes after immigration authorities intercepted a 20-year-old Filipino woman and an elderly Chinese man at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

Reports said the woman presented a genuine marriage certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority, indicating they were married in a restaurant in Pasig City but struggled to provide details about the marriage.

They were prevented from boarding their flight to Shenzhen on Feb. 28 and were handed to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

"Falsifying public documents is a serious matter. When a public document is presented, it should immediately evoke trust as authentic and valid. If the proliferation of fake public documents continues, it will erode trust in the agencies issuing these valid documents," he added. (PNA)