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1,200 fake birth cert just ‘tip of iceberg’
By Nidz Godino
“I think that is only the tip of the iceberg’ so to speak… NBI should investigate further and find real and other culprits behind this… I believe Guo is not the first and will certainly not be the last to fake birth certificate,” Senate President Francis Escudero said senators expressed alarm over 1,200 foreigners believed to be Chinese nationals who obtained Philippine birth certificates through late birth registration in Davao del Sur town of Sta. Cruz since 2016, saying this could be just “tip of iceberg.”
Escudero urged National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to dig deeper into issuance of fake birth certificates and locate those behind illegal activities.
Escudero said case of suspended Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac, who has Philippine birth certificate even if evidence indicated that she is Chinese national, was not isolated.
Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III described as “alarming” NBI report.
“Alarming report…there should be comprehensive investigation of what happened there. ..I am sure the good mayor there will help in conducting that investigation,” Pimentel stressed.
NBI said not just 200, but up to 1,200 foreigners believed to be Chinese nationals have obtained Philippine birth certificates through late birth registration in the Davao del Sur town of Sta. Cruz since 2016.
NBI received information from the acting civil registrar of Sta. Cruz. NBI is also verifying reports that several of 1,200 have criminal records.
Last week, initial NBI findings showed that at least 102 cases of questionable late birth registration were recorded in Sta. Cruz town in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Like Escudero and Pimentel, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian described as “alarming, this is very alarming” problem of rampant issuance of fake birth certificates for fee.
“For sure we are just looking at the tip… problem is deeply rooted…one small municipality, they intentionally made fake birth certificate,” Gatchalian stressed.
He said reports of irregular issuance of birth certificates was reportedly made from 2016 to 2019.
“It goes to show late registration policy has been abused…two individuals were arrested at the airport… 32 years old and they were among those who had ‘late registration’,” he stated.
He noted that those arrested individuals claimed they could not recall their childhood, the same story used by Guo when grilled during public hearing at Senate.
Gatchalian said public has become more aware of the issue of manipulated birth certificates after case of Guo was exposed.
“It has been exposed with Guo’s case late registration is now too high profile…previously, people were not aware of late registration,” Gatchalian added.
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