Push Admin

Immigration bureau warns vs fake CFO docs, says fixers asked as high as P8,000

Article (news)

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/05/09/20230502-naia-terminal-1-travelers-jc0712.jpg"/><figcaption>Overseas Workers sign forms as they arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City on May 2, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday warned the public against patronizing fixers for documents at the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), after victims said their fees for its Guidance and Counseling Program reached as high as P8,000. </p><p>Immigration Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said their office has intercepted fixers for the scheme in various airports, recently in Clark International Airport and Cebu International Airport. </p><p>Some even asked their victims for another P4,000 for “assistance.” </p><p>“Isa doon sa mga emerging trends ay iyong pamemeke po ng Commission on Filipino Overseas certificate o iyong CFO certificate po na tinatawag; itong CFO ay requirement ng Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking para doon sa mga kababayan natin na mag-a-abroad to meet and marry foreign spouse,” said Sandoval. </p><p>“Kung ito po ay nagdaan sa isang fixer, hindi po natin kinuha directly from CFO, then definitely po may problema po iyan, kabahan na po tayo, maaari pong ito ay peke. We also have CFO Representatives sa ating mga paliparan na siya pong nagbi-verify kung mayroon po tayong nakikitang kaduda-duda doon po sa certificate nila,” she added.</p><p>The agency’s Guidance and Counseling Program aims to protect Filipino fiancé and spouses who have partners abroad and plan on migrating overseas. </p><p>“It is a definite deterrent to mail-order bride schemes and trafficking in the guise of marriage,” the CFO <a href="https://cfo.gov.ph/cfo-hybrid-frontline-services-for-guidance-and-counseling-program/">website</a> read. </p><p>The agency said it “does not collect registration fees from our clients” but noted that they only charge courier and convenience fees required by their service providers and a Documentary Stamp Tax, which costs P30 per person. </p><p>Sandoval said the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking was working with the victims to file cases against the suspects. </p><p>“​​We really see the need na mahabol ito, makakasuhan itong mga recruiters na ito, itong mga namemeke at mga fixers ng mga dokumento para matigil na po iyong mga ganitong kalokohan at mga dokumento na kumakalat po at ginagamit ng ating mga kababayan palabas po ng bansa,” she said. </p><p>Government, she noted, would not be able to protect individuals who would use fake documents to go overseas or work outside of the Philippines. </p><p>&quot;And hindi lang po sa hindi siya pinapayagan ng gobyerno, it’s really to the disadvantage siguro ng ating mga kababayan na magtatrabaho abroad because hindi nila nakukuha iyong suporta, supposedly, ng gobyerno; hindi nila nakukuha iyong proteksiyon ng gobyerno if they go out of the country,&quot; she said. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2609584" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video from PTV</em></div>

The Bureau of Immigration has intercepted fixers for the scheme in various airports, recently in Clark International Airport and Cebu International Airport. 

Immigration bureau warns vs fake CFO docs, says fixers asked as high as P8,000

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Immigration bureau warns vs fake CFO docs, says fixers asked as high as P8,000

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 09, 2023 03:32 PM PHT

Read More:

Bureau of Immigration

CFO

Commission on Filipinos Overseas

fake documents

scam

Guidance and Counseling Program

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.