Chinese, 6 others held in Cebu over fake entry paper

CEBU, Philippines —  Seven persons —six Filipinos and one Chinese national—from Manila were arrested yesterday at the Mactan Cebu International Airport for falsification of public documents after presenting fake letter of acceptance from the Lapu-Lapu City government to be allowed entry to Cebu amid the strict border measures against COVID-19.

Police identified the arrested persons as Liao Wei Sung; Joselito Caingat; Ariel Alarcon; Renato Laino; Leo Caingat; Nelson Barnacha; and Jason Gregorio, all from San Fernando, Nueva Ecija.

The suspects presented a falsified document when asked of their letter of acceptance from the local government unit upon arrival at the Mactan airport. Police Executive Master Sergeant Roger Oriarte of Pusok Police Station said the suspects claimed that the document was only given to them and they did not know it was fake.

They allegedly came to Cebu for a construction project in Lapu-Lapu City. The suspects claimed to be installers of aluminum cladding.

Mayor Junard Chan said the airport authorities found that the letter of acceptance was fake because it did not have a countersign.

“Ang akong pirma kay pirma gyud nako kay e-signature man but walay countersign sa secretary of the mayor or sa city administrator. Unya ang porma sa certificate of acceptance lahi ra pud sa kanang sa atoa gyud,” the mayor said.

Lapu-Lapu City Attorney James Sayson said the suspects will be charged with falsification of public documents which carries a fine of up to P1 million.

Lapu-Lapu City Police Office chief Colonel Arnel Banzon said that suspects are temporarily detained at the Pusok Police Station for booking. They will be transferred to the Lapu-Lapu City Jail as soon as all the booking procedures are completed which include RT-PCR testing. — FPL (FREEMAN)