By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has been cooperating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regarding the investigation of falsified birth certificates.
In its advisory, the PSA stated it has “conducted verification and provided necessary information related to the birth records under investigation to the NBI.”
According to the NBI, almost 200 falsified birth certificates were issued to individuals, most of them Chinese nationals, by the civil registry in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. These documents were issued between 2018 and 2019, the NBI added.
The PSA reported that the concerned Civil Registrar was relieved of duties by the Local Chief Executive, following the PSA’s recommendation after a fact-finding investigation conducted by the agency in a similar incident last year.
“The PSA assures the public that appropriate measures will be continuously pursued, including conducting thorough investigations, collaborating with law enforcement agencies, blocking doubtful birth records in the PSA database, and building cases for possible filing of petitions for the cancellation of birth records/certificates,” the advisory added.
The agency also encouraged the public to report illegal or unauthorized activities involving civil registration documents (CRDs).
(el Amigo/mnm)
