Binibining Pilipinas speaks up on Samantha Lo's travel issue

Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) has finally broken its silence on the issue involving Miss Grand International candidate Samantha Lo, who was detained by immigration officials in Paris and was reportedly sent back to Manila due to passport issues.

In a statement issued Monday, the organization said it "chose not to make any statements in deference to an ongoing investigation into the matter and to protect Samantha’s privacy after revelations of a fake passport had put her in this situation."

"However, due to her social media post, BPCI is forced to make a statement to ensure that only facts are presented, nothing else," BPCI said.

After making it to Caracas, Venezuela, Samantha took to Instagram to inform her followers that she made it there safely but that her local organizer "who handled my travel preparations, failed to equip me with the proper transit visa that may have enabled me to complete my earlier trip to this host country."

READ: Samantha Lo makes it to Caracas for Miss Grand International pageant

She also stated that "it wasn’t them who got me out of detention and put me safely on that plane to come back home. It was my family and other well-meaning Filipinos who did - and they are still not resting until this is over."

Samantha also thanked Miss Grand International who has "welcomed her with open arms."

"You are an amazing organization that has showed me nothing but compassion and humanity from the very beginning. Thank you for accepting me and giving me the opportunity to represent my country."

Passport issue

Citing information from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), BPCI  detailed in their statement that Samantha's  Philippine passport had been “tampered with and altered.”

The organization said it was admitted by the beauty queen’s parents during a meeting with DFA and BPCI officials that she secured her passport through a “fixer.” 

BCPI pointed out that Lo holds a US passport and, "therefore, a transit visa is not needed."

"Past Binibini Queens have done this and have encountered no problems in their travels without transit visas."

BCPI also denied that it did nothing to assist Samantha.

"Upon hearing of her situation in Paris, we immediately called upon DFA to assist her, and they did. We are grateful for the intervention of Undersecretary Dulay, which otherwise would have resulted in very serious consequences for Samantha," the statement read.

"We wanted to support Samantha and help her resolve this. However, in the last few days, we were no longer able to contact her or her family."

The organization, however, expressed relief that Lo surfaced in Caracas, Venezuela for the Miss Grand International pageant.

"We are very glad to know that she is not only safe but was welcomed by the MGI organization," BPCI said.

Read the full statement below:

Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. is aware of the unfortunate incident involving Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2019 Samantha Ashley Lo.

Ms. Lo was detained by immigration officials in Paris and was eventually sent back to Manila due to issues with her Philippine passport. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officially stated that Ms. Lo’s Philippine passport had been “tampered with and altered.”During a meeting last week with Samantha, her parents and officials from the DFA and BPCI, it was admitted by Ms. Lo’s parents, that she secured her passport through a “fixer.” 

Ms. Lo also holds a US passport and, therefore, a transit visa is not needed. Past Binibini Queens have done this and have encountered no problems in their travels without transit visas.

It is also not true that BPCI did nothing to assist her. Upon hearing of her situation in Paris, we immediately called upon DFA to assist her, and they did. We are grateful for the intervention of Undersecretary Dulay, which otherwise would have resulted in very serious consequences for Samantha. We wanted to support Samantha and help her resolve this. However, in the last few days, we were no longer able to contact her or her family.

Late Saturday night, Samantha surfaced in Caracas, Venezuela based on her social media post. We are very glad to know that she is not only safe but was welcomed by the MGI organization.

We had chosen not to make any statements in deference to an ongoing investigation into the matter and to protect Samantha’s privacy after revelations of a fake passport had put her in this situation. However, due to her social media post, BPCI is forced to make a statement to ensure that only facts are presented, nothing else.

For over five decades, BPCI has been sending Filipina delegates to international beauty pageants and we have always adhered to travel requirements set by the countries where our Binibinis compete. Through all this, BPCI stands by integrity, honesty, and the best of Filipino values in its dealing with people and other organizations.

— LA, GMA News