MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is warning the public against fake websites that are charging thousands of pesos for the issuance of eTravel passes.

BI deputy spokesperson Melvin Mabulac reminded travelers that registration for eTravel passes is free to the public.

“Kaya nga po we are asking them if ever po magri-register we go to the official website po sa etravel.gov.ph para hindi po kayo maloko. At kung if ever po mayroon po magsumbong po kayo sa ating cybercrime – iyong Cybercrime Investigation Council sa kanilang hotline number po iyong hotline 1326. Iyan po ang babala natin sa ating publiko,” Mabulac said.

(That's why we are asking them to register at the official website. Please report any complaint to our cybercrime with hotline 1326.)

The BI is coordinating with the DICT as well as with law enforcement agencies to take down fake websites and make the people behind them accountable to the law.

He also called on the public to be wary of social media posts offering employment, noting that they may be used by human traffickers.

“Nakikita po natin usually talaga is iyong offer sa kanila, iyong trabaho. We’ve also recorded regarding sa presentation – they are going abroad parang mail-order spouse ‘no. They are being invited to go abroad para mag-join daw or they are travelling with claimed spouse only to find out noong nakita natin iyong dokumento though they are authentic, genuine but the entries, information doon ay hindi naman totoo, walang nangyaring kasal – those are the things na nakikita natin,” he said.

HOLY WEEK MANPOWER

The Bureau of Immigration meanwhile assured that they have enough personnel to address the expected exodus of travelers this Holy Week break.

"Kaya nga po, ang ginawa po ng ating opisina, nagdagdag tayo ng around 65 augmentation na personnel, sila po ay tutulong sa ating mga paliparan to ensure na ang proseso sa immigration ay tuluy-tuloy considering na dumarami po iyong ating travelers ngayon,” Mabulac said.

Mabulac said they have already seen an increase in departing passengers at around 11 percent. 

From their daily average for departures this March at 42,900 passengers, it has now reached 47,500 starting March 22. 

Mabulac said that the BI have already prohibited their personnel from going on leave from March 22 until April 1, especially in the international ports.

“We are also utilizing iyong ating mobile counters, if ever marami-rami iyong tao na pasahero, then we are going to utilize that,” he said.