How can PH solve problem of fraudulent Filipino citizenship? Gov’t agencies weigh in

MANILA — The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) is proposing the passage of a law for the administrative cancellation of a foreign national’s late registration, saying the system must be changed.

The OSG was one of the government agencies present in Thursday’s hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Justice and Human Rights, which is investigating the case of businessman Joseph Sy who allegedly acquired a fake Filipino citizenship.

“The OSG has been clamoring for the passing of a law for the administrative cancellation of late registration of foreign national. Under the Civil Code po, we need a judicial order. The absurdity of the situation, a late registration is an administrative process, but to cancel the same you need a judicial process,” said Assistant Solicitor General James Cundangan.

Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag said he issued Memorandum Circular No. 22 ordering regional offices to audit and investigate those who went through late registration. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data shows these individuals number 50,000.

“I have to caution, hindi naman ibig sabihin itong lahat ng 50,000 na ito ay may problema,” Matibag clarified.

He also suggested “excluding” those who illegally availed Filipino citizenship.

“Probably the Office of the Solicitor General can file a case na parang immediately somebody like the PSA, probably, or the immigration or kong sinuman will immediately cancel this birth certificate and cancel everything and whatever na connected na property or anything, we forfeit it in favor of the government and exclude that citizen. Return it, balik na lang natin sa lugar nila kung san sila nanggaling,” Matibag stated.

He added that after the said memorandum was issued, they monitored the Chinese community’s reaction in the dark web.

“Naglagay sila ng warning: ‘Attention Chinese in the Philippines. The Philippines NBI has ordered a nationwide investigation into fake birth certificate and citizens documents,’” Matibag mentioned.

“So more reason for us in the Bureau to believe that there is a national security angle on the matter,” he continued.

National Security Council (NSC) Deputy Director General Nestor Herico supported NBI and said one way of addressing the problem is finding a way to cancel the late registration.

According to PSA, checks and balances in the registration process must be strictly implemented.

Sy—whose fingerprints the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said matched those of Chinese national Chen Zhong Zhen—was unable to attend the hearing after being rushed to the hospital last night. The BI believes Sy and Chen are the same person.

Sy was released from jail less than three weeks ago.

According to Subcommittee chairperson Senator Risa Hontiveros, “I’m happy to hear na sa wakas ay nag-file na ang OSG ng kaso para sa cancellation ng birth certificate ni Joseph Sy. May this be a pathway to the cancellation of other fraudulent birth certificates by other threat actors.”

She also called on Sy to attend the next hearing.