MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is coordinating with various government bodies to tackle the issue of "fake Filipinos," focusing on foreigners who illegally obtain official documents designated for Filipino citizens only.
According to Philippines News Agency, the bureau is intensifying efforts to prevent foreign nationals from misusing Philippine documents, an action deemed crucial for national security. "We must be proactive and thorough in our approach to prevent the misuse of Philippine documents by foreign nationals. This is an issue of national security and needs to be addressed immediately," Tansingco stated in a recent announcement.
The BI has already approached the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to obtain names and other details related to 200 falsified birth certificates discovered to be issued by the civil registry office in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Additionally, the BI is seeking data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) concerning Filipinos who utilized the late registration process to receive birth certificates, with plans to cross-check this information to ascertain if these individuals have been issued or used Philippine passports.
The initiative follows the NBI's discovery of nearly 200 fake birth certificates, predominantly issued to Chinese nationals. Tansingco also noted that the BI intercepted four more cases of fraudulently acquired Philippine citizenship just last week.
He highlighted the significance of foundational documents, like birth certificates, in acquiring further Philippine documents. Tansingco warned that such documents could be exploited by foreign nationals involved in terrorism, heinous crimes, or fraud, potentially allowing illegal aliens to vote or assimilate into society while conducting illegal activities. "Once they present themselves as a Filipino, they are removed from the purview of the BI which monitors foreigners. Apart from this, they are able to present layers and layers of Philippine documents, all original, pushing for their claim," he added.
The crackdown has garnered the attention of lawmakers and local law enforcement, who are now prioritizing efforts to resolve this complex issue of 'fake Filipinos'.