NBI orders nationwide probe into fake citizenship documents
MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation has directed its regional offices to investigate suspected schemes involving the fraudulent acquisition and use of Philippine citizenship documents.
It said that fake citizenship papers could be used to buy land, put up corporations and engage in activities exclusively for Filipinos, including seeking public office.
The Office of the Director has instructed regional offices to identify individuals and networks that may be involved in faking birth certificates and supporting documents, simulated parentage, identity substitution, misrepresentation, and other unlawful means to acquire Philippine citizenship.
Investigators have been directed to examine possible links among civil registrars, notaries, affiants, fixers, facilitators, public officials, corporate entities, property holdings, and other parties who may have helped facilitate the alleged schemes.
Priority cases would include
- Those related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or Internet Gaming Licensees Transnational organized crime
- Illegal drugs
- Human trafficking
- Money laundering
- Graft and corruption
- National security
- Land ownership
- Nationalized industries
Individuals holding or seeking public office
The NBI said the probe will not focus on specific races or ethnicities and that delayed registration and foreign ancestry or origin will not prompt an investigation unless there are indications of fraud and falsification.
The order also directs investigators to trace assets, properties, vehicles, and corporate interests linked to validated subjects.
Such inquiries must comply with applicable privacy laws, bank secrecy rules, and judicial authorization requirements, it also said.
The memorandum gives regional directors 90 days to submit an initial report on validated subjects, suspected networks and other investigative developments.
Cases involving urgent national security concerns, active transnational criminal threats, imminent asset dissipation, or ongoing corruption must be reported immediately, the Office of the Director also said.