Pinoys with fake CFO
papers face blacklisting abroad

ROXAS City – Filipinos run the risk of being blacklisted by the government of their intended country of destination if they are caught with fake Guidance and Counseling Certificates and Registration Stickers.

Genuine certificates and stickers are issued only by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). These are given to Filipinos going abroad to marry foreign nationals.

A team from CFO led by Senior Emigrant Services Officer Kimberly Joy Dizon was here recently. They conducted a Community Education Program to raise public awareness on various issues concerning migration, intermarriages and existing government policies and programs directed against illegal recruitment, documentation fraud, and human trafficking, among others.

The activity was done in coordination with the provincial government of Capiz, city government of Roxas and Philippine Information Agency with the support of the local tri-media, the academe, and community organizations.

CFO warns Filipino women and the pubic in general of fake CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificates and Registration Stickers sold by so-called recruitment agencies or marriage brokers.

The documents purport to show that the women are married to foreign nationals and therefore can leave for abroad usually for work.

The CFO said that such activities violate the Anti-Mail Order Bride Law (Republic Act No. 6955) and the Anti-Human Trafficking Law (RA 9208), which provides stiff fines and long prison terms.

Filipino spouses and partners of foreign nationals are required to undergo the Guidance and Counseling Program of the CFO prior to applying for a Philippine passport.

There are only two counseling service providers accredited by the CFO, namely the St. Mary Euphrasia Foundation (SMEF-COW) and the People's Reform Initiative for Social Mobilization (PRISM).

After complying with the counseling requirements, a certificate is issued to the Filipina spouse or partner of a foreign national. (PIA/PN)