A fake Philippine documents syndicate was busted in Manila, with authorities arresting two suspects linked to issuing genuine documents with false details.
The travel agency allegedly helped foreign nationals acquire fake Philippine passports, birth certificates, and marriage records, which could be tied to offshore gaming operations.
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc) Executive Director Gilberto Cruz said the agency played a key role.
“If you’ve followed the Senate hearing, this is the missing link,” Cruz said on Thursday, February 6. “They facilitate documents for foreign nationals so they can get passports, PSA birth certificates, and late registrations.”
Two Arrested in Entrapment Operation
A joint operation on February 5 led to the arrest of two suspects.
Authorities raided JRB Travel and Consultancy Services Inc. in Intramuros, Manila. They arrested Rosalie Bermas Bolaños and Jaive Espolong Nobleta. Both were caught processing Philippine IDs for foreign nationals.
“We found marriage certificates, birth records, and even a passport,” Cruz said. “The photo was clearly of a foreigner, but the name was Filipino.”
All the documents were real. They came from official agencies like the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). But the details were fake.
“We need to verify with the DFA if these people exist,” Cruz added. “The birth certificates and receipts were mailed from PSA, so they are authentic. But that doesn’t mean the details are correct.”
Fake Paocc Employees and Extortion
Cruz also revealed another scheme. The suspects posed as Paocc employees and extorted money.
Two complainants came forward on February 4. They said the suspects demanded large sums to prevent deportation.
“One woman paid P900,000 to release her fiancé,” Cruz said. “Another paid P1.1 million to free her husband, who was caught in a Pogo raid in Parañaque.”
The victims believed they were dealing with real Paocc officials. But Cruz clarified that no actual personnel were involved.
“They just pretended to be from Paocc,” he said.
Syndicate with Government Connections?
Authorities suspect the group had inside help.
“They move boldly because they have contacts,” Cruz said. “Not just in Immigration, but maybe even PSA and the LTO.”
These operations tend to pause when there’s scrutiny. But once the heat dies down, they start again.
“They only lie low when pressure is high,” Cruz explained. “Maybe their key contacts haven’t been exposed yet.”
Now, officials are pushing for deeper investigations.
“We also need to check our own people,” Cruz said. “For all we know, some insiders are involved. That’s why we pushed hard to catch them. If this keeps going, it means their contacts are still in place.”
Calls for Stricter Oversight
Senators have called for tighter oversight on government agencies handling IDs and travel documents. Lawmakers warn that if these loopholes remain, illegal activities will continue.
“This isn’t just about Pogos. Fake documents enable crimes like human trafficking and fraud,” a senator said. “Agencies need to step up screening and tracking of issued records.”
Authorities say more arrests may follow as they dig deeper into the syndicate’s network. Investigations are now focused on tracing government employees who may be involved.
