Woman Gets 2-Year Prison for Using Forged BI Stamp

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado

Woman Gets 2-Year Prison for Using Forged BI Stamp

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.Com | September 25, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – A woman has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to using a falsified immigration stamp in an attempt to leave the country for a job in Thailand.

Melissa Dy was sentenced by the Metropolitan Trial Court of Pasay City, Branch 165, to a prison term of at least two years, four months, and one day, but not more than three years, six months, and 20 days.

She was also fined P1,000 for violating Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes the use of falsified documents.

Dy was apprehended on May 28 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 while attempting to board a flight to Thailand.

According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), she confessed to being recruited to work for an offshore gaming company in Mae Sot, Thailand.

Instead of following legal procedures for overseas workers, Dy opted to use a fixer who promised to provide immigration assistance by affixing a counterfeit stamp to her passport and boarding pass.

The BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) intercepted Dy and referred her case to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation.

The National Bureau of Investigation International Airport Intelligence Division subsequently determined that sufficient evidence existed to file charges against her for presenting a travel document containing a forged immigration departure stamp.

“This case serves as a warning to both traffickers and aspiring overseas workers considering the use of falsified documents to circumvent immigration inspection,” said Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

Viado stressed the BI’s capabilities in detecting fraudulent documents.

“Our immigration officers are highly trained to identify fake documents, and we have a state-of-the-art forensic documents laboratory to confirm fraud or forgery,” he said.

“Those who insist on using fake documents may face significant jail time.”

The BI’s swift action and the court’s decisive ruling underscore the government’s commitment to combating human trafficking and protecting Filipino citizens from exploitation.