NBI to probe fake birth records, illegal property acquisitions of foreigners

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is set to launch a nationwide investigation into the alleged fraudulent procurement of Philippine birth records and the unlawful acquisition of property by foreign nationals, many of whom are suspected to be Chinese, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Tuesday.

Matibag said he would issue a memorandum directing all NBI regional directors and assistant directors to investigate the alleged irregularities.

“I will be issuing, releasing memorandum order to all regional directors and assistant directors for a nationwide investigation of fraudulently procured Philippine citizenship documents, related identity fraud and the unlawful acquisition of control of property of foreign nationals,” he said.

Asked whether the investigation would specifically target Chinese nationals, Matibag said the public should wait for the results of the probe. He acknowledged, however, that initial reports indicated that many of the suspected cases involved Chinese nationals.

“Many of them are Chinese. We already have reports indicating that… There are other nationalities as well,” he added.

Matibag said many of the suspected fraudulent birth registrations were reported in Mindanao, particularly in North Cotabato and Davao del Sur.

Although Matibag did not explicitly identify what prompted the directive, the investigation comes amid high-profile cases involving alleged falsification of Philippine birth records, including that of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

Guo was found to have used fraudulent identity documents and was later convicted in connection with a qualified human trafficking case linked to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities. She has also faced allegations of being a Chinese spy.

The investigation also comes amid concerns over illegal activities linked to foreign nationals, including scam hubs and illicit POGOs operating in the country.— MCG, GMA News

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