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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hontiveros reveals fake citizenship of Joseph Sy's Son; raises alarm on Chinese sleeper cells in PH

Hontiveros reveals fake citizenship of Joseph Sy's Son; raises alarm on Chinese sleeper cells in PH

Published Oct 2, 2025 03:34 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Risa Hontiveros exposed the alleged fraudulent citizenship of businessman Joseph Sy and his son Johnson Cai Chen, whom she both linked to criminal networks. She warned that such deep foreign interference poses a serious national security threat to the Philippines.
Senator Risa Hontiveros has sounded the alarm over what she calls a “deep and dangerous foreign interference” in the Philippines, citing new evidence on the fake citizenship of businessman Joseph Sy.
Senator Risa Hontiveros (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Risa Hontiveros (Senate PRIB photo)
In a privilege speech, Hontiveros revealed that Sy’s son, Johnson Cai Chen (also known as Johnson Chua Sy), possesses two active passports—one Chinese and one Filipino—and two different birth certificates with conflicting parent details.
“Samakatwid, this Johnson Cai Chen or Johnson Sy has two passports, isang Chinese at isang Pilipino, and two birth certificates. Aba, dinaig pa niya si Alice Guo (Therefore, this Johnson Cai Chen or Johnson Sy has two passports — one Chinese and one Filipino — and two birth certificates. Well, he's even worse than Alice Guo),” Hontiveros said.
The senator underscored that China does not allow dual citizenship. She points out that such irregularities raise serious concerns about fraud and national security.
Hontiveros also cited intelligence linking Joseph Sy to MIFI (malign influence and foreign interference) activities, and to the Hongman Association--a suspected transnational criminal syndicate with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
She noted that similar CCP-linked operations have been documented abroad, including a recent Al Jazeera investigation into Chinese influence efforts in Paraguay.
“Ganito po kalalim nakabaon ang talon ng Chinese influence activities (This is how deeply entrenched the claws of Chinese influence activities are)...Anything is possible if you work for them. Anything is doable,” Hontiveros stressed.
Joseph Sy himself was arrested on Aug. 21, 2025, at NAIA Terminal 3 by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on suspicion of misrepresenting his Filipino citizenship.
Authorities alleged that his fingerprints matched those of a Chinese national named Chen Zhong Zhen. Sy is currently detained at the BI facility in Bicutan, Taguig, while facing deportation proceedings and further investigation.
The lady senator reiterated that the state has the sovereign right to challenge fraudulent citizenship, especially when it threatens national security.
"The State should always, in the exercise of its sovereign powers, be able to assail someone with fraudulent citizenship. Lalo na kung ito’y kanyang kinubli ng mahabang panahon (Especially if he concealed this for a long time)," she added.

Related Tags

Risa Hontiveros Joseph Sy sleeper agent Bureau of Immigration (BI)
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