(Photo courtesy of OPAPRU)
MANILA – Senator Loren Legarda has underscored the need to investigate local civil registrars (LCRs) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to prevent the case of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo from happening again.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Legarda said Guo should not have been elected into public office if she was unable to acquire a Philippine birth certificate like other Chinese nationals.
"It's not for the people to decide on the elections on May 12. Suriin ngayon. Kailangan kahapon, nung isang buwan pa, isang taon pa (Scrutinize it now. It should have been yesterday, the other month, the other year)," she said.
Legarda, along with Senator Raffy Tulfo, filed last month proposed Resolution No. 1200 calling for a Senate investigation on the reported issuance of birth certificates to foreign nationals through late registration by certain LCRs.
"This clearly undermines public confidence in our institutions in the government. It places our national security at risk," Legarda said.
"So, those who facilitated, planned it, conspired, and helped and aided these acts, they must face the consequences of their illegal and criminal behavior in action," she added.
The senator also cited records from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) showing there are a total of 71 suspected cases of foreign nationals who were able to fraudulently acquire Philippine passports.
These cases are currently being investigated by the DFA and have already been endorsed to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police for case handling and further investigation.
The NBI reported that around 1,200 foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, obtained birth certificates through fraudulent late registration in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, since 2016.
Meanwhile, the National Security Council linked this to corrupt civil registrars issuing birth certificates to foreigners for a fee, allowing them to obtain Philippine passports. (PNA)
