Senator Win Gatchalian has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to pursue its investigation into the issuance of falsified birth certificates to ensure that those responsible are brought to court and penalized.
Gatchalian was referring to the 1,051 late registrants from 2016 to 2023 in the municipality of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur. Of the total certificates of live births reviewed, 54 were found to have been issued to alleged foreign nationals without Filipino parents.
“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,” according to him.
“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 said, citing the case of Alice Guo, who managed to get herself elected as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac on the basis of a fake birth certificate.
Gatchalian said the government must find solutions to prevent unscrupulous individuals or groups from taking advantage of the late registration process, which was established mainly for the benefit of indigenous peoples in the country and those residing in remote areas.
The NBI has initially validated the existence of 102 of the 1,501 individuals who managed to get spurious birth certificates from Sta. Cruz.
None of the 102 individuals actually reside in the town, its investigation found.IMT
