Chinese woman held over fake travel papers

MANILA, Philippines — Intelligence operatives from the Bureau of Immigration arrested a Chinese woman as she tried to leave for Malaysia for carrying fake travel documents, the BI reported yesterday.

Zhiqun Liao, 31, was about to board a Malaysian Airlines flight for Quanzhou at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Sept. 5 when immigration officers noticed discrepancies in her passport, Border Control and Intelligence Unit head Dennis Alcedo stated in a report to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

The officers noted that Zhiqun’s passport did not contain a Philippine arrival stamp – a stamp was instead affixed on a certificate indicating her travel record.

She also could not show the Philippine visa she used to allegedly enter the country or her visa extensions.

The BI’s systems did not contain any record of her arrival on June 15. Airline representatives said the flight Zhiqun allegedly took to arrive in the country was non-existent.

Zhiqun was arrested and charged with violating provisions of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.

She will remain in the BI’s detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig pending the resolution of the case against her.