By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian has urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to intensify its investigation into the issuance of fake birth certificates.
“I urge the NBI to determine and validate the existence of the 1,501 late registrants. My apprehension is that there are more cases similar to this, and people might continue to abuse the system unless those guilty are penalized,” Gatchalian said.
“The birth certificate is the basis of one’s Filipino citizenship, and foreigners who are able to spuriously secure a birth certificate can obtain a Philippine passport, get their own national ID, and buy real estate properties,” he noted.
Gatchalian was referring to the 1,051 late registrants from 2016 to 2023 in the municipality of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur. Based on the Ad-Hoc Fact-Finding Committee of the Office of the Mayor, out of the 1,501 certificates of live births (COLB) reviewed, 54 were found to have been issued to alleged foreign nationals without Filipino parents.
The senator also mentioned the case of suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who “managed to get herself elected as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac on the basis of a fake birth certificate.”
“Our solutions should not unduly burden our people but should be effective enough to prevent the likes of Alice Guo from taking advantage of the late registration process,” Gatchalian said.
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