NBI probes foreigners’ ‘fraudulently procured’ PH citizenship papers

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has launched a nationwide probe into foreigners’ fraudulent procurement of birth certificates, passports and other documents used as proof of Filipino citizenship, Director Melvin Matibag said Thursday.

The probe follows Matibag’s earlier concerns about illegal activities involving foreign nationals, including Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) and scam hubs in the country.

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In Memorandum Order No. 22 dated Oct. 20, Matibag instructed all regional directors, assistant directors, and heads of concerned services and divisions to investigate “fraudulently procured Philippine citizenship documents, related identity fraud, and the unlawful acquisition or control of property by foreign nationals.”

In a video message, Matibag said the issue involves not only fake documents but also the country’s security and the integrity of its institutions.

“When a fake identity is used to purchase land, control a business reserved for Filipinos, access government transportation, hide the true beneficial owner, or hold and run for public office, the interests of the republic are affected,” he explained.

He also said the NBI would look beyond the procurement of these documents and investigate “the entire network behind it.” This would include tracking fixers, fake affiants, notaries, facilitators, and dummies, as well as corrupt officials and other individuals who benefit from the operation.

Matibag said the NBI would prioritize cases involving Pogos, scam hubs, organized and transnational crime, illegal drugs, money laundering, graft and corruption, online sexual abuse or exploitation of children, child sexual abuse or exploitation material, and other threats to the country’s national security.

READ: NBI flags foreigners getting PH birth certificates through late registration

He clarified that the investigation was not a campaign against foreigners or any race. He said it aimed only to protect Filipino identity and institutions and “ensure that no criminal or anyone with ill intentions can use fake identities to evade our laws and jeopardize the security of our country.”

“If there is a syndicate behind this, we will find it. If there is government collusion, we will hold it accountable,” he added.

In a Senate hearing in September, Matibag flagged the acquisition of Filipino birth certificates by thousands of foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, through late registration.

Matibag cited Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) records showing that over 50,000 individuals had obtained birth certificates through late registration.

“The PSA conducted an audit; when they audited, there were about two or seven million who availed of late registration,” Matibag earlier said, noting that the registrations mostly took place in two municipalities in Mindanao.

“When that audit was done, there were about 5,000 foreign nationals, and the majority of them were Chinese who availed of that registration and became Filipino,” he added. /mcm