Pinoys in Saudi Arabia warned vs using fake marriage contracts

Filipinos in Saudi Arabia were warned on Wednesday against using fake marriage contracts or fake “authenticated” documents, lest they be caught and held liable.

The Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia said it also does not tolerate the use of such fake documents and will confiscate them, then report the offenders to the authorities.

"The Embassy reminds all Filipinos to refrain from dealing with 'fixers' or middlemen in Saudi Arabia or in the Philippines, who pose as Embassy officials, and promise to procure these fake documents in exchange for cash," the embassy said in an advisory.

It added it will be posting said fake documents on its website at http://www.philembassy-riyadh.org "to warn the public and for purposes of transparency."

Also, it said all Embassy officials and personnel, including their designations, are listed on the website.

A separate report on Saudi-based Arab News said the warning came after many Filipino mothers with undocumented children could not be repatriated under the amnesty program that has now been extended until Nov. 3.

The Arab News report said the children had no birth certificates issued by the Philippine embassy.

"A birth certificate is necessary for an exit visa to be issued by the Saudi Passport Department. The children could not be registered at the embassy because they were the result of illegal relationships," it said.

However, the problem was solved only recently when the Kingdom processed their information, including arranging for DNA testing which ended last Sunday.

“The embassy was able to process more than 450 applicants,” Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago said. - VVP, GMA News