Adiong: Issuers of fake PH birth certificates part of broader network
MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Sunday said the arrest of four employees from the municipal civil registry of Davao del Sur for supposedly issuing fake birth certificates to Chinese nationals could just be a part of a broader scheme that must be investigated nationwide.
In a press release, House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur also welcomed the development and stressed that it must be thoroughly investigated.
READ: NBI Davao uncovers ‘200 falsified birth certificates’ issued to Chinese
“While this is a good first step, we must not stop with just one office. This kind of syndicate work could not have thrived without a broader network. We should look for similar operations in other parts of the country, especially during the Duterte administration when Chinese influence grew unchecked,” Adiong said.
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The National Bureau of Investigation already filed falsification and cybercrime charges against the civil registrar employees. The fake documents were allegedly used to secure passports, allowing entry into and work in the country.
“Any Filipino who helps a foreign national—especially someone from a country aggressively encroaching on our territory—commit fraud should be ashamed of themselves. This isn’t just a case of corruption. This is treasonous behavior,” Adiong said.
Adiong further said that the incident that Filipinos who side with foreign interests at the expense of national security should be exposed and prosecuted.
“Team Pilipinas is fighting to protect our sovereignty, our identity, and our future. Team China is playing the long game, trying to infiltrate our systems one fake birth certificate at a time. Anyone helping them is not neutral—they are an active part of the problem,” he said.
He then called on the Department of Justice, the Philippine Statistics Authority, and the Department of Foreign Affairs to conduct a thorough review of all birth records issued in the last 10 years in areas where high volumes of Chinese migrants have been reported.
