MANILA, April 17 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cautions Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries against submitting fake or fraudulent credentials to get hired, regularized or promoted, in view of the increasing number of Filipinos charged and/or detained for falsification of documents.
DFA said the falsification cases handled by the Embassies in the GCC member countries include submission of fake documents such as diplomas, transcripts of records, certificates of completion of TESDA courses, and certificates of marriage, among others.
Most Filipinos charged with falsification cases said that they asked a friend or a relative to obtain these documents in the Philippines for them, unaware that they are in possession of fake documents. Usually, a close examination would show that the stamp and seal of the UAE Embassy in the Philippines and the DFA’s stamp and seal are falsified.
DFA further said that all fake documents are confiscated upon submission for attestation to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The holders of the fake documents are sent to police stations for investigation. If convicted, they could face a jail term of up to 10 years, depending on the circumstances and the gravity of the offense, and deportation.
The DFA advises Filipinos in the Arab Gulf Countries to present their documents to the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General so that the consular staff can check the authenticity of the documents. Genuine, attested documents have security features in the stamp, seal and the documents themselves, which are hard, if not impossible to forge.
Filipinos are further advised to avoid shortcuts in applying for jobs in the UAE and in other GCC countries. It is best to go through the regular employment procedure by applying through licensed Philippine recruitment agencies and processing their documents at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. (DFA)
