Manila: A video posted on social media led to the arrest of a man engaged in the production of fraudulent documents in Manila, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, in a press briefing held at Camp Crame, CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit (AOCU) acting chief Lt. Col. Angelo Nicolas said Wednesday's operation in Sta. Cruz district stemmed from a viral YouTube video posted on Aug. 10 by content creator "Discover with Joe HaTTab," which exposed the ease of procuring forged travel documents in the nation's capital.

Lt. Col. Nicolas explained that the police operation targeted individuals manufacturing fake passports, driver's licenses, and other public documents. The investigation began after a foreign vlogger's experience of obtaining a fake Philippine passport went viral on Facebook, prompting surveillance that eventually led to engaging with the suspect responsible for the forgeries.

He detailed that the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit (AOCU) used the viral video as an initial lead to carry out comprehensive validation and surveillance, which successfully identified the suspect and tracked his illegal operations.

At 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, AOCU operatives conducted a raid on the suspect's location in Barangay 310, Sta. Cruz, Manila. The suspect, whose identity was not disclosed, was apprehended while actively manufacturing fake documents.

The suspect's pricing for fraudulent documents included PHP3,500 for a fake Philippine passport and PHP1,200 for a counterfeit Land Transportation Office (LTO) driver's license.

CIDG operatives seized a variety of manufacturing tools and completed fake documents at the scene, including counterfeit Philippine passports, LTO driver's licenses, NBI clearances, numerous falsified government documents, desktop computers, printers, industrial lamination machines, and raw materials used for document forgery.

Nicolas also noted the potential liability of the content creator involved. He emphasized the seriousness of creating and using fake documents, stating that the investigation would include examining the implications of submitting fake requirements and passports in official transactions.

The suspect will face charges before the National Prosecution Service for violations of Republic Act 11983 and Article 172 (Falsification of Public, Official, or Commercial Documents by Private Individuals) in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code. Republic Act 11983, known as The New Philippine Passport Act, penalizes any person or entity who willfully and knowingly falsifies or forges any passport, travel document, or related application document. Additionally, mere possession of such forged items serves as prima facie evidence of the violation.