Senator Raffy Tulfo expressed alarmed over the rising number of foreign nationals, particularly Chinese, who were able to obtain fake Filipino citizenships and other government-issued documents through acquiring fake birth certificates issued by local civil registry offices by means of late registration.
During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, it was revealed that an estimated number of 1,471 Chinese nationals are believed to have obtained fake Philippine documents such as birth certificates, passports, citizenships and other various government identification cards (IDs) based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data.
“An estimated number of 1,471 Chinese nationals are believed to have obtained fake Philippine documents such as birth certificates, passports, citizenships and other various government IDs.”
According to Atty. Eliezer Ambatali, Director III of the PSA Legal Services, they have already endorsed these cases to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), reasoning that OSG will also be mainly responsible for determining to cancel such documents.
Asked by Tulfo if they’ve already filed cases or issued cancellations of documents or deportations, Atty. Eric Remegio Panga, OSG Assistant Solicitor General, failed to give a clear answer which earned the ire of the legislator.
The lawmaker pointed out that the issue is a serious threat to the country’s national security especially if it’s not being resolved by such agency, adding that it will continue to open opportunities to these aliens to acquire other government-issued documents and IDs which can be used for transactions or worst case scenario is utilized to hold positions in government.
“So hindi mo alam kung ilan na doon sa 1,640 ang nakansela. So maaaring sa 1,640, nakakuha na ‘to ng iba’t-ibang mga IDs sa ating gobyerno. Maaring ilan sa kanila dito baka pulitiko na, baka mayor na, baka congressman. O Baka nagtatrabaho na sa DND at pwede nang mag-espiya! Nagtatrabaho na sa PNP, sa coast guard! We don’t know because sa pagiging inutil niyo diyan sa OSG,” the senator stressed.
He also expressed dismay over PSA’s lack of coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure monitoring of foreign nationals that were also issued Philippine Passports.
Tulfo then questioned National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the status of their investigation of the 1,200 Chinese nationals who were able to acquire fake birth certificates from a town in Davao Del Sur.
According to NBI Davao Agent Geraldo De Luna, they have already transmitted an initial 102 cases to the Office of the Ombudsman – Mindanao of which includes 4 personnel from the Local Civil Registry Office of the town of Sta. Cruz who will face charges in violation of the law on registration of civil status, anti-fraud and falsification of public documents.
Tulfo then cited the gap to which after the PSA endorsed the cases to the OSG cases are yet to be resolved for long periods of time until a decision is made for the cancellation of said fake documents thereby.
He emphasized the need for a bill putting more power and authority on the PSA to which at their level, they can already immediately cancel documents of foreign nationals with sufficient evidence based on a 30-day period of investigation.
“I’m going to pass a bill. Ang PSA ang gagawa ng investigation within a period of 30 days.”
“I’m going to pass a bill. Ang PSA ang gagawa ng investigation within a period of 30 days. Once it’s proven na fake ang birth certificate or any other document was acquired illegally, dun pa lang sa inyo sa PSA, kakanselahin niyo na. On their level pa lang, pwede nang kanselahin, ‘wag nang pumunta pa sa OSG kasi napapahaba lang ang proseso depende pa kung gaano kalaki ang backlog ng OSG by then naka-secure pa to ng ibang IDs sa gobyerno,” Tulfo explained.
He highlighted that through his suggestion, cases won’t be stuck for decades at the OSG level and case resolutions are ensured and immediately acted upon.
Lastly, Tulfo also proposed that the PSA should constantly coordinate and engage with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and DFA to determine the status of foreign nationals going in and out of the country.
