CFO warns against fake papers

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

I ran across this jewel, and I wonder if the information is worth anything:

Roxas City -- The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (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.

On the other hand, the victims run the risk of being blacklisted by the government of their intended country of destination.

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.

A team from CFO led by Senior Emigrant Services Officer Kimberly Joy Dizon was here July 4-7 to conduct 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. (PIA-JSC/CFO)

--Bullwinkle

[Mykuls Merry Ann 4]

They are losing money, and that is all they are worried about. They are not really trying to protect anyone here. I was talking with my Ann and she called CFO and told there is a fee for the sticker (P400), and a fee for the certificate (P400), and a fee for the seminar (P250). I could not understand why they have to have a certificate and a sticker here...but its not much so....

But it seems the Philippines government needs to make as much money as they can on those fiancee that are leaving the country. The fraudulent stickers and certificates must be really hurting them now. They can easily detect this if they needed to.

[Jasman0717 9]

Fake papers in the Philippines Never

[Dakine 26]

Having a CFO sticker may help you get on a plane but sure won't get you into another country.

[tallcoolone 102]

They are losing money, and that is all they are worried about. They are not really trying to protect anyone here. I was talking with my Ann and she called CFO and told there is a fee for the sticker (P400), and a fee for the certificate (P400), and a fee for the seminar (P250). I could not understand why they have to have a certificate and a sticker here...but its not much so....

But it seems the Philippines government needs to make as much money as they can on those fiancee that are leaving the country. The fraudulent stickers and certificates must be really hurting them now. They can easily detect this if they needed to.

I went with my fiance to register at CFO.

It seems to be a joke and another scam to get money.

We got there around noon, She went to do CFO.

I walked down the street and found a Shakeys Pizza. Got me a pitcher of beer and a pizza and found a Birth day party going on. About 2 hours later I went back and fetched her.

Total waste of time and money doing the CFO gig........

Edited January 30, 2009 by tallcoolone

[PingLocalHostess 1]

They are losing money, and that is all they are worried about. They are not really trying to protect anyone here. I was talking with my Ann and she called CFO and told there is a fee for the sticker (P400), and a fee for the certificate (P400), and a fee for the seminar (P250). I could not understand why they have to have a certificate and a sticker here...but its not much so....

But it seems the Philippines government needs to make as much money as they can on those fiancee that are leaving the country. The fraudulent stickers and certificates must be really hurting them now. They can easily detect this if they needed to.

You only have to pay P250 at the seminar where they will give you the certificate after and P400 for the CFO sticker.

The CFO seminar and guidance counseling is our government's attempt to help Filipino citizens (not just fiance/es) who leave the country and keep tabs of them. I went thru it and i find it very informative. They tell you what to do in the airport... what fees you'll be paying.... what to do and where to go to if you run into trouble in a foreign country. It is not extortion. Some may find it ridiculous but your fiance/es CANT leave the country without it.

Heck! If you can afford to pay all the visa fees........... its only P650.

People counterfeiting documents is all over the world.... not just in third world countries.

[Jose Rizal 1]

They are losing money, and that is all they are worried about. They are not really trying to protect anyone here. I was talking with my Ann and she called CFO and told there is a fee for the sticker (P400), and a fee for the certificate (P400), and a fee for the seminar (P250). I could not understand why they have to have a certificate and a sticker here...but its not much so....

But it seems the Philippines government needs to make as much money as they can on those fiancee that are leaving the country. The fraudulent stickers and certificates must be really hurting them now. They can easily detect this if they needed to.

I went with my fiance to register at CFO.

It seems to be a joke and another scam to get money.

We got there around noon, She went to do CFO.

I walked down the street and found a Shakeys Pizza. Got me a pitcher of beer and a pizza and found a Birth day party going on. About 2 hours later I went back and fetched her.

Total waste of time and money doing the CFO gig........

What about the fees USEM/NVC are charging $15 is nothing compared to the $131 interview fees. Don't know why a lot are ranting over the seminar. But for the OFWs this seminar is very crucial. You may laugh at it but does serve a purpose. The horror stories of those leaving the country are quite true. A lot of Filipinos leaving the country, haven't been inside a plane yet. Whereas for example the $131 fee for an tourist visa nterview only to be denied most of the time (for honest Filipinos) is really a joke as it's a money making scheme. $131 is a lot of money.

[tallcoolone 102]

They are losing money, and that is all they are worried about. They are not really trying to protect anyone here. I was talking with my Ann and she called CFO and told there is a fee for the sticker (P400), and a fee for the certificate (P400), and a fee for the seminar (P250). I could not understand why they have to have a certificate and a sticker here...but its not much so....

But it seems the Philippines government needs to make as much money as they can on those fiancee that are leaving the country. The fraudulent stickers and certificates must be really hurting them now. They can easily detect this if they needed to.

I went with my fiance to register at CFO.

It seems to be a joke and another scam to get money.

We got there around noon, She went to do CFO.

I walked down the street and found a Shakeys Pizza. Got me a pitcher of beer and a pizza and found a Birth day party going on. About 2 hours later I went back and fetched her.

Total waste of time and money doing the CFO gig........

What about the fees USEM/NVC are charging $15 is nothing compared to the $131 interview fees. Don't know why a lot are ranting over the seminar. But for the OFWs this seminar is very crucial. You may laugh at it but does serve a purpose. The horror stories of those leaving the country are quite true. A lot of Filipinos leaving the country, haven't been inside a plane yet. Whereas for example the $131 fee for an tourist visa nterview only to be denied most of the time (for honest Filipinos) is really a joke as it's a money making scheme. $131 is a lot of money.

The whole K1 process is money making scam.

I have thousand of Illegal Aliens living in my city.

All they do is cross the border illegaly from Mexico. Most are from Mexico and some are from countries south of Mexico.

Trust me it pisses me off that we have over 20 million illegal aliens in USA, and cities are sanctuary cities where the police are not allowed to ask/check to see if a person is an illegal alien.

A few years ago, USA granted US citizenship to most of the illegals living in USA.

So the whole thing is money making scheme.....

[PingLocalHostess 1]

It seems we've all been scammed!

[tallcoolone 102]

It seems we've all been scammed!

[Dakine 26]

CFO is NOT a ripoff! LOTS more pinay getting in deep "dakine" after arriving in the US and ending up with a loser for a mate. At least CFO gives them some contacts and phone numbers to help them out!

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

What about the fees USEM/NVC are charging $15 is nothing compared to the $131 interview fees. Don't know why a lot are ranting over the seminar. But for the OFWs this seminar is very crucial. You may laugh at it but does serve a purpose. The horror stories of those leaving the country are quite true. A lot of Filipinos leaving the country, haven't been inside a plane yet. Whereas for example the $131 fee for an tourist visa nterview only to be denied most of the time (for honest Filipinos) is really a joke as it's a money making scheme. $131 is a lot of money.

I understand what you are saying. When you see it in pesos, it seems like real money. I remember getting mad at the taxi drivers who tried to overcharge, maybe 10, 25, 50, or even 100 pesos. "If you don't mind, I can turn off the meter and take another way to get you there for just 150 pesos," they would say, especially after dark. I was getting upset, until I thought to myself, I am argueing over paying fifty cents, or at most a buck overcharge! I might have tipped him more than that if he wasn't trying to scam me!

Starbucks, now that is a real rip-off!

--Bullwinkle

Edited January 31, 2009 by Rocky_nBullwinkle

[Loolie 56]

cfo isnt a scam... its just that they need to have fees to be able to help also heller...i bet one of you will ask for help if something wrong happens...hehehheheh.

[couple 0]

What about the fees USEM/NVC are charging $15 is nothing compared to the $131 interview fees. Don't know why a lot are ranting over the seminar. But for the OFWs this seminar is very crucial. You may laugh at it but does serve a purpose. The horror stories of those leaving the country are quite true. A lot of Filipinos leaving the country, haven't been inside a plane yet. Whereas for example the $131 fee for an tourist visa nterview only to be denied most of the time (for honest Filipinos) is really a joke as it's a money making scheme. $131 is a lot of money.

I understand what you are saying. When you see it in pesos, it seems like real money. I remember getting mad at the taxi drivers who tried to overcharge, maybe 10, 25, 50, or even 100 pesos. "If you don't mind, I can turn off the meter and take another way to get you there for just 150 pesos," they would say, especially after dark. I was getting upset, until I thought to myself, I am argueing over paying fifty cents, or at most a buck overcharge! I might have tipped him more than that if he wasn't trying to scam me!

Starbucks, now that is a real rip-off!

--Bullwinkle

Taxi drivers when they see white they see dollar$$$ not all but many. It is really upseting as soon as you get inside the taxi they ask for additional charge or tip always. I got tired and learned to do not argue, because it will only stressed and makes me more pangit hahaha or just take anotehr taxi. I understand them they want to make more money but still its rude/bad when they ask for tips before u go and not just wait for my voluntary tips and the overcharge is double the actual meter fare or sometimes 150% more of actual meter (sometimes more than that). But the worst part is.. most drivers dont appreciate the tip or the overcharge cost, and soemtimes will have a look at you and or you will hear word/s when they dont like the amount of tip you gave and even if it was good tip,,,but i just ignore.... But when husband is back to usa, they dont try to overcharge me. We ride taxis 2 times in a day soemtimes 4 times to go places, it is alot plus tips,, imagine living in philippines that way you will know what i mean.

i thought ill just post this as bullwinkle mentioned about taxi drivers.

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

They are losing money, and that is all they are worried about. They are not really trying to protect anyone here. I was talking with my Ann and she called CFO and told there is a fee for the sticker (P400), and a fee for the certificate (P400), and a fee for the seminar (P250). I could not understand why they have to have a certificate and a sticker here...but its not much so....

But it seems the Philippines government needs to make as much money as they can on those fiancee that are leaving the country. The fraudulent stickers and certificates must be really hurting them now. They can easily detect this if they needed to.

I went with my fiance to register at CFO.

It seems to be a joke and another scam to get money.

We got there around noon, She went to do CFO.

I walked down the street and found a Shakeys Pizza. Got me a pitcher of beer and a pizza and found a Birth day party going on. About 2 hours later I went back and fetched her.

Total waste of time and money doing the CFO gig........

Where did you go for the CFO...Manila? If so which place in Manila? Taft Ave or the one in Ouezon City area?

I know one is called PRISM ST. Marys and the other something else.

I will be going to take my fiancee to CFO on February 16 and was planning on going to the Taft Ave. location. I have read this location is the fastest place to get it over with??