A Chinese national has been arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for posing as a Filipino, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Friday, Aug. 22.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado identified the arrested Chinese national as Chen Zhong Zhen, 60, who was intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 3 last Thursday, Aug. 21, before the foreigner could board his flight to Hong Kong.
Viado said Chen is the subject of a BI mission order as well as a probe being conducted by the bureau which received information that the Chinese illegally acquired Philippine documents that showed he is a Filipino.
“The illegal acquisition of Philippine documents is a national security issue that must be resolved collectively and immediately to protect our country from illegal aliens that might have suspicious intentions,” he said.
The BI said it found that Chen has been using a Philippine passport that was issued in 2021 and was in possession of Philippine identity cards that show he is a Filipino.
However, it said that Chen’s fingerprints matched a Chinese citizen who previously held a long-term visa and an Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card.
Chen is detained at the BI’s facility in Taguig City pending his deportation.