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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BI to probe Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co on nationality issue

BI to probe Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co on nationality issue

Published Dec 7, 2025 12:00 pm
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday, Dec. 7, it will investigate allegations that Pagadian City Mayor Samuel S. Co is not a Filipino citizen.
BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said: “We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the veracity of the allegations.”
Sandoval said the probe will start by looking into the bureau’s internal records.
The BI issued the statement in response to reports that Co could be another Alice L. Guo, the former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac who was dismissed from her post after she was found to be a Chinese national.
Published reports stated that Co could be a Chinese national and may have been born in China to Chinese parents.
Co has already denied allegations and insisted that he was born in the Philippines to Filipino parents.
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