A Chinese national pretending to be a Filipino was arrested by intelligence agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Daet, Camarines Norte, on Wednesday, 25 June.

Identified as 45-year-old Wu Zhishi, the suspect was found to have allegedly falsified government documents to support his false claim of Filipino citizenship. Reports also said Wu obtained a firearm license using fake Philippine identification cards.

The operation was conducted in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

Wu denied the allegations and presented an expired retiree’s visa card as part of his defense.

“This poses a risk to national security as these aliens are able to embed themselves in society, possibly engaging in illegal activities by using someone else’s identity,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado in a statement.

“There is a need to review policies on the issuance of Philippine documents to prevent this from happening again,” he added.

Wu has since been turned over to the PAOCC, while legal custody remains with the BI. He is set to face deportation for violating the country’s immigration laws.