Filtered By: Topstories
News

15 OFWs jailed in Singapore for fake plane tickets


The Philippine embassy in Singapore has reported that 15 Filipinos have been jailed after the Singaporean government’s recent crackdown on foreigners who present fake airline tickets to immigration authorities. The possession of a roundtrip ticket is required for Filipino tourists who leave the country and these tickets are checked at the port of exit in the Philippines and at the port of entry at the destination country. Presenting fake e-tickets and deception of immigration officers is illegal and a serious crime in Singapore as well as in the Philippines. Any violator faces a minimum two – year ban to enter Singapore. In the past two months, 15 Filipinos were meted out jail terms ranging from three to 10 months each. These Filipinos include pub girls wanting to extend their stay, job seekers and a Filipino information technology professional involved in the manufacture of fake electronic tickets for Filipinos. Philippine Ambassador Belen Anota has cautioned Filipinos against the use of fraudulent tickets issued by travel agencies in the Philippines and instead, get open – dated return tickets if unsure of a return date. In a recent meeting with the leaders of the Filipino expatriate community in Singapore, Anota asked for support to provide information for travelers to the city – state, warn them of the risks and make sure that they have valid roundtrip tickets. Anota also warned that travel agencies producing fake tickets could affect their businesses and also risk facing charges. To control the excessive use of fake tickets, the embassy has imposed measures to be put into effect in the Philippines. Firstly, they plan to strictly impose disciplinary measures against travel agencies that issue fake electronic tickets as they are the party that are misleading the ticket holders, the airline’s check – in personnel and the immigration officials at the airport. Secondly, an information campaign is to be launched at the local government level and among the travel agencies in the Philippines on the disadvantages and dangers of using fake tickets targeting job seekers who pose as tourists. Lastly, they plan to aggressively implement laws against illegal recruiters and to conduct a more intensive information campaign in the areas where trafficking victims are recruited. Relevant to this, the embassy also pointed out the link between human trafficking and the uncontrolled use of fake tickets by Filipino victims of human trafficking in Singapore. To lure prospective victims, illegal recruiters and human traffickers usually provide ‘free’ roundtrip tickets which are usually in the form of electronic tickets. These electronic tickets only have one way valid. The recruiters and traffickers then charge them a minimal fee. To lower the costs, human traffickers plan schemes with travel agencies to issue fake return tickets which are usually from an airline different to the outbound portion. This is so that it complies with the Philippines’ immigration requirement of a roundtrip tickets for all tourists. This procedure lowers the cost of the outbound flight. Traffickers then take profits from their victims by persuading them to pay their bogus debts ranging from $1,200 - $6,000. – Lea Mirella M. Deocadiz, GMANews.TV

LOADING CONTENT