In the Philippine capital of Manila, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has called upon the nation’s intelligence agencies to urgently address the issue of fraudulently issued Philippine passports and other official documents to foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens. This appeal was made during the continuation of the Senate’s budget debate sessions.
Zubiri highlighted to the representatives from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica) and the National Security Council (NSC) the serious nature of this fraud, which reportedly involves corrupt government officials and poses a threat to national security. The National Bureau of Investigation is already looking into these allegations, initially brought to light by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa in a discussion regarding the budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The DFA revealed that these foreign individuals had managed to acquire authentic Philippine birth certificates from the Philippine Statistics Authority, which they used to apply for Philippine passports. Zubiri expressed alarm over the ease with which these foreigners obtained genuine birth certificates, emphasizing the national security risks involved.
Zubiri pointed out that the use of legal Filipino documents by foreigners in crimes such as kidnapping, extortion, and sex trafficking is a phenomenon rarely seen in other countries. He stressed the need for legislation that imposes harsher penalties on those who provide such documents to non-Filipinos.
Expressing his desire for a prompt investigation following the budget hearings, Zubiri urged for immediate action. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, responsible for presenting the budget proposals of the NSC and Nica, confirmed that the officials from these agencies are committed to participating in the investigation.
Senator Risa Hontiveros echoed Zubiri’s concerns, noting the involvement of Chinese nationals employed in Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). She warned of the national security implications, citing reports of potential ‘sleeper cells’ from China in the Philippines. Hontiveros emphasized that the operation of Pogos could be a strategy to infiltrate key government institutions and compromise national security. She also highlighted the recent relocation of Pogos to provincial areas following raids in Metro Manila.
Photo: DFA.GOV.PH