Korean nabbed for using Pinoy passport

MANILA, Philippines - A Korean national was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for allegedly using a fake passport and trying to pass himself off as a Filipino.

The Bureau of Immigration reported that BI personnel detailed at the NAIA Terminal 1 caught Jung Hwan Kim as he was about to leave the country using a Philippine passport issued to a certain Ernesto Perez Tan.

Upon examination, the BI’s Anti-Fraud Division (AFD) discovered that the first page of the passport, which bears the holder’s photograph and biographical data, was replaced with one bearing Kim’s photograph.

Authorities also found a Papua New Guinea driver’s license issued to a certain Jung Hwan Kim. The driver’s license, which was later verified to be authentic, bore the same picture as the one in the fake Philippine passport.

BI MCMG head Rogelio Gevero said Kim reportedly admitted to committing the violation.        – Rudy Santos, Evelyn Macairan