QUAD COMM LEADERS PUSH FOR BILL TO CANCEL FRAUDULENT BIRTH CERTIFICATES ACQUIRED BY FOREIGN NATIONALS

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Leaders of the historic House Quad Committee on Wednesday (20 November 2024) filed a bill aimed at establishing an administrative process to expedite the cancellation of birth certificates fraudulently obtained by foreign nationals, including those involved in illegal drug operations and other criminal activities linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

House Bill (HB) No. 11117, also known as the proposed “Fraudulent Birth Certificate Cancellation Law,” is the third legislative initiative stemming from the Quad Committee’s investigation into alleged criminal activities by foreigners, particularly the use of falsified documents.

The bill was introduced by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” D. Gonzales Jr.; Deputy Speaker David “Jay-Jay” C. Suarez; Quad Committee Chairs Robert Ace Barbers, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Dan Fernandez, and Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano; and Quad Committee Vice Chair Romeo Acop.

Other authors include Reps. Johnny Ty Pimentel, Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, Rodge Gutierrez, Francisco Paolo Ortega V, Jay Khonghun, Jonathan Keith Flores, Jil Bongalon, Margarita “Atty. Migs” Nograles, Ernesto Dionisio Jr., Joel Chua, Zia Alonto Adiong, Lordan Suan, and Cheeno Miguel Almario.

“A birth certificate is the most basic document a Filipino citizen must have. It is a document that signifies the State’s acknowledgment of an individual as a Filipino and opens up opportunities for that person, such as practicing a profession, engaging in specific businesses, or even running for public office,” the bill’s authors explained in their explanatory note.

This legislative move follows revelations that thousands of foreign nationals have fraudulently acquired Philippine birth certificates.

In Davao del Sur alone, more than 1,200 falsified birth certificates were issued by the local civil registrar as of July 2024.

Lawmakers suspect these schemes may involve collusion with public officers.

“These foreigners likely received assistance from public officers at local civil registry offices to obtain these fraudulent birth certificates,” the bill’s authors noted.

Despite the evidence of fraud, lawmakers pointed out that current procedures require a judicial order to cancel a birth certificate, a process that can take years. In the meantime, these fraudulent documents allow foreign nationals to engage in illegal activities, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking.

“This situation cannot continue,” the lawmakers emphasized.

Under the proposed legislation, a Special Committee on Cancellation of Fraudulent Birth Certificates would be created, chaired by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Registrar General, with members from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

The committee would have the authority to investigate complaints, subpoena evidence, and issue decisions on fraudulent birth certificates within 30 days of receiving evidence.

Complaints may be filed by any legal-age citizen or law enforcement agency and must include specific evidence, such as the name of the foreign national, details of the fraudulent birth certificate, and how it was obtained.

The foreign national would then have 15 days to respond to the complaint, after which the committee would hold hearings and make a decision based on the evidence.

Decisions would be immediately enforceable but could be appealed to the Office of the President, which must resolve the appeal within 30 days.

The bill also includes penalties for public officials and private individuals involved in facilitating fraudulent registrations.

“It’s time to end these unlawful activities,” the authors declared. “Filipino citizenship should not be so easily acquired by unscrupulous individuals seeking to further their own interests. Being a Filipino is something we must honor and protect.”

This legislation follows the filing of two other bills related to the Quad Committee’s investigations.

Earlier this month, Quad Committee leaders filed HB 11043, the proposed “Civil Forfeiture Act,” which seeks to allow the government to seize real estate unlawfully acquired by foreign nationals, especially those tied to POGOs.

They also filed HB 10987, the “Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act,” in October, which aims to impose a nationwide ban on POGOs, reinforcing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to safeguard public safety and national security from criminal activities linked to POGOs.

The proposed legislation seeks to ban all offshore gaming in the country and impose penalties for violations.

Also last month, the Quad Committee submitted key documents to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for potential legal actions against Chinese nationals accused of using fake Filipino citizenship to acquire land and establish businesses in the Philippines.

The mega-panel, which includes the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts, urged the OSG to expedite the review and initiate legal actions, including civil forfeiture proceedings with the relevant agencies.

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