The recent uncovering of 1,200 fake birth certificates in Davao del Sur sparked an urgent call for crackdown on this illicit trade from key Senate figures, who raised significant concerns on this issue and its effect on public order and national security.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros emphasized the severity of this matter, condemning the corruption behind the sale of fake birth certificates. “Our identity cannot be bought or sold,” she stated on Tuesday, urging those involved to cease exploiting Filipino citizenship for profit.
Senate President Francis Escudero warned that this incident might only be the “tip of the iceberg.” He urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a thorough probe to identify and apprehend all culprits involved.
“I believe (Alice) Guo is not the first and will certainly not be the last to fake a birth certificate,” Escudero said.
The report was also labeled “alarming” by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, who called for a comprehensive investigation.
Similarly, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian announced plans to file a resolution to scrutinize the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) process for issuing birth certificates.
Earlier, he revealed that fake birth certificates, potentially bundled with passports and driver’s licenses, are being sold for as much as P300,000.
Hontiveros connected the issue to ongoing legislative inquiries into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), noting that criminal groups frequently use fake Filipino identities for illicit activities.
“We, at the Senate, will continue to look into this alarming trend,” she assured. Somewhere out there, someone with a fake identity is trying to buy land, use Philippine passports to give himself or herself a brand-new identity, form corporations, and perhaps even have the audacity to run for public office,” the senator said, alluding to the case of Guo.
Hontiveros also questioned whether the fake birth certificates issue is isolated to Davao del Sur or is a nationwide problem. She emphasized the need to crack down on Filipinos facilitating these fraudulent activities.
In her capacity as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, Hontiveros, alongside Gatchalian, is leading the Senate investigation into POGO operations in the country.
Gatchalian highlighted that the issuance of fake birth certificates is a critical factor fueling illegal activities in the sector.
