News of fraudulent birth certificates issued to foreign nationals by local registry offices has unveiled a significant breach in the Philippines' civil registration system. On March 22, 2025, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported the filing of charges against four employees of at the local registry of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur for allegedly issuing fake birth certificates to Chinese nationals. An NBI report said “at least 1,576 fake birth certificates were issued through late registration from 2018, 2019 and 2021.”
Lawmakers have called for a deeper investigation into this as they believe that there is a broader network that supports the illegal acts, which they have called “treason.” The counterfeit documents enables foreigners to acquire Philippine passports, assume Filipino identities, engage in business transactions, and even pursue public office. This exploitation not only undermines national security but also erodes the integrity of our legal and political institutions.
The case of former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo has brought significant attention to the issue. Investigations in 2024 revealed that Guo, believed to be a Chinese national, had used delayed registration to register her birth and get a Philippine identity. The investigations focused on her alleged involvement in facilitating the establishment of POGO operations in her town, where paraphernalia related to scam operations were found by authorities. The Senate and House hearings of the case, which were live-streamed in traditional and social media and captured the attention of millions of viewers, highlighted the extent of the problem and the urgent need for systemic reforms.
Shortly after the Guo investigations, there were more reports about the issuance of fraudulent birth certificates using the delayed registration process. The process allows people living in far-flung areas to register the birth of children. A Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) official had said that from 2010 to 2024, 14.89 million have been registered using the delayed registration schemes. An intensified scrutiny of birth records directed the PSA’s investigation to more than 50,000 birth registrations for signs of irregularities, resulting in the blocking of more than 1,600 birth certificates found to be fraudulently obtained by foreign nationals. That was according to reports in November 2024.
In response to this alarming development, various branches of the Philippine government have initiated measures to curb the proliferation of fraudulent birth certificates. In November 2024, House Bill No. 11117, known as the "Fraudulent Birth Certificate Cancellation Law," was filed. It aims to establish an administrative process for the swift revocation of fake birth certificates. The proposed legislation seeks to create a special committee empowered to investigate complaints, subpoena evidence, and issue decisions on fraudulent documents within 30 days of receiving evidence. This initiative addresses the current lengthy judicial process required for cancellation, which can span several years.
The revelation of fake birth certificates issued to foreign nationals poses a serious threat to the Philippines' sovereignty and institutional integrity. The government has taken steps to address this issue through legislative action, rigorous investigations, and inter-agency collaboration. Lawmakers have called on investigations that will expose and prosecute Filipinos who side with foreign interests at the expense of national security, because this is not only a matter of corruption.
Most of all, the active participation of citizens is indispensable. By remaining vigilant, reporting suspicious activities, engaging in community education, supporting legislative reforms, and ensuring personal compliance with legal documentation processes, Filipinos can collectively uphold the sanctity of national identity and contribute to a more secure and transparent society.