Manila vows tougher action on gangs as ‘Chinese mafia’ eyes Philippine passports for crime

Name: ‘It’s scary’: Asian cryptocurrency scams bilk tens of thousands of ‘brainwashed’ victims
Uploaded: 2024-03-08T09:30:21.000Z
Duration: 6 min 18 s
Description: ‘It’s scary’: Asian cryptocurrency scams bilk tens of thousands of ‘brainwashed’ victims

Manila is tackling the threat of foreigners entering the country using valid documents obtained through illicit ways

Authorities also discovered several cases of foreign nationals pretending to be Filipinos by using different Philippine documents

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Travellers at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The Bureau of Immigration said a whole-of-government response was required to tackle the threat from foreigners entering the country using valid documents obtained through illicit ways. Photo: Shutterstock

SCMP’s Asia desk

Published: 5:30pm, 8 Mar 2024

The Philippines has raised national security concerns over the existence of an alleged “Chinese mafia” accused of illegally procuring the Southeast Asian nation’s passports for mainlanders posing as local traders, pledging tougher action against such gangs.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said a whole-of-government response was required to tackle the threat from foreigners entering the country using valid documents obtained through illicit ways.

“We are thankful that lawmakers and law enforcement agencies are taking action against this scheme that we have previously sounded the alarm on,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.

Sandoval also said the department had discovered several cases of foreign nationals pretending to be Filipinos by using different Philippine documents.

“We see this as a national security concern that should be addressed holistically by all government agencies concerned,” she said.

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‘It’s scary’: Asian cryptocurrency scams bilk tens of thousands of ‘brainwashed’ victims

Sandoval added BI was ready to share details about past cases with investigators.