Malacañang is again facing another issue involving a fake document bearing the signature of the President.
This time, it is about a document designating a new Bureau of Immigration (BI) commissioner which, the Palace said, does not exist in its records.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said on Tuesday, Aug. 30, that an investigation to look into the purported forged document has been ordered by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
The document, which named Atty. Abraham G. Espejo Jr. as new upcoming BI Commissioner and has the President's signature, has been circulating on social media.
It reached the Palace's attention on Monday, Aug. 29, and said that "no appointment has yet been made to the position of Immigrations Commissioner."
On Tuesday, Angeles made it clear that the Palace did not issue the document.
The Office of the Executive Secretary, Presidential Management Staff (PMS), and Office of the President have no record of the document, she said.
"indi pa natin nakikita yung original if any. Ang masasabi natin is may lumilitaw na dokumento ay sinasabing may appintment na po pero hindi nag-e-exist yung records base dun sa record search natin (We haven't seen the original copy, if any. What we can say is an appointment document appeared, but does not exists on the records based on the record search)," Angeles said in a press briefing.
The Press Secretary said they are taking the issue seriously as this could also happen in other instances, particularly the usage of the President's signature in other documents.
"Yung ganitong klaseng (These kind of) crimes can cause instability. Ito po yung pangunahin sa isip ng ating pangulo na magkakagulo kung ganito yung papabayaan nating mangyari (The number one concern of the President is the instability it can cause if we allow this to happen)," Angeles said.
"Bukod pa nun tandaan natin signature ng ating pangulo ang pinagahihinalaan nating na forge so medyo mabigat yung implications niya. Hindi rin natin alam kung ano ang maaaring paggamitan ng mga ganung klaseng dokumento (Aside from that, let us remember that the President's signature, which is suspected to be forged, has heavy implications. We also don't know where this kind of document will be used)," she added
She further said that "it can cause not just confusion but further crimes."
This was what prompted Marcos to order an investigation which is now being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP).
The investigation will determine the origin of the fake document and its validity, and the individuals behind it.
The Press Secretary also issued an appeal to media outfits, which published a report citing the fake document, to help the authorities in the investigation.
She clarified that it is not a warning to media entities but a mere appeal to provide information to the authorities.
"Unang una, hindi kami nananakot ng (First of all, we are not threatening the) media. As a matter of fact, ang sinasabi natin may pagkakataon ang media na matulungan magbigay ng impormasyon sa ating (we are saying that the media has an opportunity to help give information to our) law enforcement agencies," Angeles said.
The Palace official said this is a serious matter because forging of any seal of the government, including the President's signature and seal, has a penalty of reclusion temporal or 12 to 20 years of imprisonment.
Three weeks ago, the Palace was also in a similar situation where it ordered an investigation on the unauthorized order allowing the importation of sugar supply.
Although the document was not fake, it was deemed illegal by the Palace as it was not approved by the President.