Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today commended National Bureau of Investigation Director Reynaldo Wycoco and his agents for busting a syndicate that has been dealing in fake visas and passports.

"The action of the NBI, under the able leadership of Director Wycoco, has dealt a serious blow to those who seek to victimize honest people seeking to travel abroad. Most of these people seek only to work and it is indeed deplorable that syndicates such as the one that Director Wycoco has busted, continue to exploit the traveling public," Secretary Ople said.

The NBI yesterday busted a big-time syndicate behind the manufacture of fake visas and passports following the arrest of two men in Metro Manila. NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco said the group, which has been operating for the past 10 years, can make fake visas from countries with strict requirements and policies in the issuance of documents. Wycoco said the group can provide a client with a Schengen visa, for use in several European countries except the United Kingdom, for some P25,000 to P30,000.

The Secretary acknowledged that there are cases when valid passports are sold by their legal holders. "We need the close cooperation of law enforcement agencies. We take great care in ensuring that passports are issued only to legitimate applicants. But what those applicants do once they have their passports is something that the DFA would have difficulty in policing," the Secretary said.

"We intend to coordinate more closely with these agencies in helping prevent the misuse of valid passports. I hope that we can continue to act against these criminals and we will cooperate fully with the law enforcement agencies concerned," the Secretary said. END.