Ambassador Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. has issued an advisory asking the public not to transact business with anyone outside the embassy lest they end up with fake documents.
“Nanduon sila (fixers) sa labas. Yung mga bababa ng taksi, sasalubungin nila. Siyempre sa dami ng tao di naman namin napapansin mabuti kahit sa CCTV,” Vingno told The Filipino Times. He added, “Yung iba nakakapasok hanggang sa loob ng embassy.”
The situation, he said, is reminiscent of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) main office in Manila where fixers offer their “services” to people queueing in for their passports and other documents at a slightly higher price.
Vingno said his office has come across 10 fake documents – Affidavit of Support and Guarantee – purportedly signed by Vice Consul Von Ryan Pangwi, who started to assume post just this March.
Vingno’s advice: “Makipagdeal lang kayo sa mga may ID ng embassy. Lahat kami dito naka-ID na.”
He also said none of the embassy staff could be involved. “Sa amin, walang gagawa nun. Takot lang nila.”
