BI INTERCEPTS SUSPECTED MAIL-ORDER BRIDE AT NAIA

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) intercepted a 25-year-old Filipino woman at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 suspected of being a mail-order bride.

The interception forms part of the government’s intensified anti-trafficking efforts under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has ordered agencies to strengthen safeguards for vulnerable Filipino travelers.

The woman, who was supposed to board an Air China flight to Beijing, was referred by primary inspectors to the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) for secondary checks.

During the interview, the passenger claimed she was visiting her Chinese husband identified only as “Wang,” whom she met online through a common friend in 2024.

She said they married in September 2025 “in a restaurant,” yet she could not provide specific details about the supposed ceremony.

Officers noted numerous inconsistencies between her statements and the documents she submitted.

The BI reported that the woman used a PSA marriage certificate with questionable details. She later admitted she had no knowledge of the legal requirements for marriage and that her aunt processed all documents in exchange for a P60,000 payment.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado condemned the attempt, stressing that such schemes place Filipinos in grave danger.

“This is a clear case of a mail-order bride scheme,” he said.

“These arrangements trap victims in exploitative situations abroad—many end up unpaid, abused, and unable to seek help. We urge the public not to fall for these fraudulent offers,” he warned.

The woman was turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation and assistance.