By Hannah L. Torregoza
Senators on Tuesday, July 16 expressed alarm over the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) recent discovery of some 1,200 fake birth certificates in Davao del Sur.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he believes the fraudulent practice has been going on for a long time now, and the culprits behind it should be made accountable.
“I think that is only the ‘tip of the iceberg’ so to speak. The NBI should investigate further and find the real and other culprits behind this,” Escudero said.
Escudero further believes that the case of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo “is not the first and will certainly (she would) not be the last to fake a birth certificate.”
“I am sure that this racket has existed for some time now,” the Senate leader pointed out.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also expressed concern over the NBI’s “alarming report.”
“(That’s an) alarming report. Dapat meron (There must be a) comprehensive investigation on what happened there,” Pimentel said.
“I am sure the good mayor there will help in conducting that investigation,” he said referring to Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur Mayor Jose Nelson Z. Sala Sr.
According to the NBI, they were able to obtain the information from the acting civil registrar of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. The agency is also verifying reports that several of the 1,200 foreigners believed to be Chinese nationals have criminal records.
The said 1,200 foreigners allegedly obtained their Philippine birth certificates through late birth registration in the said town.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who is leading the Senate’s investigation into the crimes linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) expressed her dismay at the revelation, particularly the involvement of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo who is allegedly a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping.
“Tigilan na ang pagkakalakal sa ating pagka-Pilipino. Ang ating pagkakakilanlan o identity ay hindi pwedeng bilhin o ibenta (Let’s put a stop to the practice of trading our becoming Filipino. Our identity cannot be bought or sold),” Hontiveros said in a separate statement.
“Uncovering thousands of fake identities is a clear threat to public order and national security. Our recent legislative inquiries into POGOs have already revealed that criminal groups use fake Filipino citizenship to carry out their illicit activities,” she said.
“We, at the Senate, will continue to look into this alarming trend.
Somewhere out there, someone with a fake identity is trying to buy land, use Philippine passports to give himself or herself a brand new identity, form corporations, and perhaps even have the audacity to run for public office,” Hontiveros pointed out.
She said it is imperative for the government to look into the bottom of the issue considering that it has been done before.
“Sino ang mga nagkukunsinti nito? Sino ang mga kasabwat o protektor? Sa Davao del Sur lang ba ito nangyayari o sa buong Pilipinas (Who condones this? Who are the accomplices or protectors? Is this happening only in Davao del Sur or in the whole Philippines)?” the senator lamented.
“We must crack down on Filipinos who have made this possible.
Walang mabuting kahihinatnan ang pagpapanggap (Pretending has no good consequences),” she added.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, said he has filed a resolution seeking a Senate probe into the matter saying he heard of reports that the falsified birth certificates were obtained for an average fee of P300,000 each.
Gatchalian noted that the Chinese nationals who are now suspected of obtaining fake birth certificates are sharing the “same story, same line” that Mayor Guo is also using, saying they could not remember their childhood.
“Correct, (it’s the) same story, same line. Talagang kailangang maimbestigahan ito (This must be investigated). It’s alarming, this is very alarming,” Gatchalian said.
“For sure, we are just looking at the tip (of the problem). Malalim na problema ito (This is a deeper problem),” he said.
“Nabuksan na because masyadong high profile ang late registration. Dati hinid naman kabisado ng tao ang late registration (It is now out in the open because it has because the issue of late registration has become high profile),” he pointed out.
Gatchalian said the local registry of Davao del Sur should be called to the Senate probe to shed light on the matter.
“We will also coordinate with the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) so we can also identify the other areas that make the same modus; there is also one in Lanao,” he said.
“We have to look at the personalities. Dahil itong birth certificate di na dumadaan sa mayor ito, local registrar pwede na siyang mag-isyu. Ganyan kapowerful ang local registrar (Because the birth certificates do not pass through the mayor, it’s only the local registrat that can issue. That’s how powerful the local registrar’s office is),” Gatchalian said.