NBI finds 1,200 foreigners with fake birth certificates in Davao Del Sur
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) found up to 1,200 foreigners believed to be Chinese nationals who obtained Philippine birth certificates through late registration in Davao Del Sur since 2016.
The Philippine STAR reported that the NBI got the information from Sta. Cruz's acting civil registrar. It initially reported 200 fake birth certificates.
The agency is also verifying reports that several of the 1,200 individuals have criminal records.
Initial NBI findings showed at least 102 cases of questionable late birth registration were recorded in Sta. Cruz in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
The NBI said it would investigate other areas like Pampanga and Tarlac, where Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators involved in alleged trafficking and scams have been raided.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago told the STAR that Mario Tizon, Sta. Cruz's civil registrar since December 1994, was suspended. He was reassigned in April.
The birth certificate issues come amid allegations that suspended Bamban mayor Alice Guo registered late to claim Philippine citizenship and run for public office in 2022.
Last April, the NBI's Davao Del Sur office investigated reports of late birth certificate registration involving Chinese nationals in the province.
Sen. Win Gatchalian previously said he'd file a resolution seeking a probe into these issues in Sta. Cruz, in which birth certificates are allegedly obtained for an average fee of P300,000.
Gatchalian said "this could be 200 Alice Guos, which is very concerning."
The senator said there could be a syndicate in the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) engaged in the scheme.
The Bureau of Immigration is coordinating with the NBI and the PSA on the initially reported 200 questionable birth certificates.