The House Committee on Population and Family Relations approved on Wednesday a proposed law aimed at expediting the cancellation of birth certificates fraudulently obtained by foreign nationals, primarily Chinese individuals linked with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
House leaders crafted the proposed “Fraudulent Birth Certificate Cancellation Law” or House Bill 11117 following the quad committee’s investigation, which exposed how foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals, used fictitious Philippine birth certificates to obtain government-issued IDs, circumvent immigration laws, and engage in illicit activities, such as drugs and POGOs.
In July, the National Bureau of Investigation reported that at least 1,200 foreigners, believed to be Chinese nationals, had obtained spurious birth certificates through late birth registration in Davao del Sur alone.
The figure, however, was five times higher than the initial report of 200 falsified birth certificates issued to Chinese nationals from 2018 to 2019 by the Local Civil Registry of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.
The proposed law seeks to penalize public officials and private individuals involved in facilitating fraudulent registrations. Proponents of the bill are keen to emphasize that these Chinese nationals securing birth certificates are often in cahoots with local officials.
It also aims to establish a streamlined administrative process to preserve the integrity of Filipino citizenship and prevent abuses of the system.
In an interview, quad committee co-chair Bienvenido Abante Jr. expressed confidence that the bill will pass the 19th Congress before its sine die adjournment in June.
He said the measure would finally end fraudulent schemes that grant foreigners access to opportunities reserved solely for Filipinos and facilitate involvement in illegal activities.
“At the quad committee, we saw a lot of Chinese who got their [Philippine] passports, and the only way for them to have an official passport would be if they had official legal certificates, birth certificates. Well, they weren’t born here, they’re from China," Abante said.
Legislators argue that fraudulent documents allow foreign nationals to engage in illegal activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering, posing a serious threat to national security.
Proponents said the approval of the bill is long overdue to safeguard the Philippines’ legal and social systems.