The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the arrest of an overstaying Chinese national who attempted to leave the country with a spurious immigration document.

In a report to Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the BI’s border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) identified the passenger as Ning Haochao, 24.

Ning was intercepted at the NAIA 3 terminal last March 24 before he could board a Cebu Pacific flight to Xiamen, China.

He was offloaded from his flight after BI officers confirmed that the emigration clearance certificate (ECC) purportedly issued by the bureau which he presented is counterfeit.

It was also found that Ning is in the bureau’s blacklist of aliens who overstayed their tourist visa.

He is now detained at the bureau’s detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.

“Let this serve as a warning to overstaying aliens.  Do not use spurious immigration documents because such trick will not go undetected by our officers at the airport,” Tansingco said in a statement.

He said it is evident that the passenger used the fake ECC to evade immigration fines and penalties.

The BI chief said Ning will remain in the BI blacklist, perpetually banning him from re-entering the country.

Catherine R. Cueto