Pasay city: A 21-year-old woman suspected to be a victim of a mail-order bride scheme was intercepted by immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported that officers from the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) stopped the passenger at the NAIA Terminal 3, preventing her from boarding a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Guangzhou, China on March 10.

During an interview, the passenger claimed she was traveling to China to pursue language studies and mentioned her enrollment at a public higher vocational engineering college in Guangdong province. However, officers identified several inconsistencies between her statements and the documents she provided.

The woman eventually confessed that no genuine enrollment had occurred and disclosed that her trip was for a marriage arranged by an agent with an unidentified person. She also revealed she was promised PHP50,000 upon the marriage.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated, "This attempt exposes how traffickers use now fraudulent study programs abroad as a cover for their illegal activities." He emphasized the commitment of their officers at all entry and exit ports to remain vigilant against any schemes that threaten the safety of Filipinos.

The woman has since been handed over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further investigation and the filing of appropriate cases.