Senators Alarmed Over 1,200 Suspected Chinese Nationals Obtaining Fake Philippine Birth Certificates
SENATORS – Senators expressed alarm about 1,200 foreigners, suspected to be Chinese nationals, who have acquired Philippine birth certificates through late birth registration.
Senators raised concerns yesterday about the 1,200 foreigners, allegedly Chinese nationals, who have acquired Philippine birth certificates through late birth registration in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur since 2016. They warned this might be “just the tip of the iceberg.”
Senate President Francis Escudero called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate further into the issuance of fake birth certificates and identify those responsible for these illegal activities.
Based on a report from Philstar, Escudero pointed out that the case of suspended Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac, who holds a Philippine birth certificate despite evidence suggesting she is a Chinese national, is not an isolated incident.
“I think that is only the tip of the iceberg’ so to speak. The NBI should investigate further and find the real and other culprits behind this,” said Escudero. “I believe Guo is not the first and will certainly not be the last to fake a birth certificate.”
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III echoed these sentiments, describing the NBI report as “alarming.” “There should be comprehensive investigation of what happened there. I am sure the good mayor there will help in conducting that investigation,” Pimentel said.
The NBI disclosed that up to 1,200 foreigners believed to be Chinese nationals have acquired Philippine birth certificates via late birth registration in Sta. Cruz since 2016. This information came from the acting civil registrar of Sta. Cruz. The NBI is also investigating whether several of these 1,200 individuals have criminal records.
Recent NBI findings revealed at least 102 questionable late birth registrations in Sta. Cruz in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
According to the report, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also expressed alarm over the rampant issuance of fake birth certificates for a fee.
He highlighted that these irregular registrations occurred from 2016 to 2019 and noted the arrest of two individuals at the airport who were among those with late registrations. These individuals claimed they couldn’t remember their childhood, a similar story used by Guo during a Senate public hearing.
Gatchalian emphasized that the public has become more aware of the issue of fake birth certificates following Guo’s case. “It has been exposed. (With Guo’s case) the late registration is now too high profile. Previously, people were not aware of the late registration,” Gatchalian added.
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