By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday warned against illegal issuance of Philippine documents, saying the perpetrators and end users would be dealt with the “full force of the law.”
The BI issued the call after a Chinese national was arrested in Cagayan de Oro City last week for posing as a Filipino citizen, complete with Philippine documents.
“This case is not just about an immigration violation. It’s about the integrity of our national identity,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement.
“We call for a full-stop on the illegal issuance of Philippine documents. These fraudulent activities threaten our national security and must be met with the full force of the law,” he added.
The BI identified the arrested Chinese national as 38-year-old Xu Shiyan, who allegedly claimed that he is a dual citizen because of his Filipino mother and Chinese father.
However, BI investigations revealed inconsistencies in Xu’s claim, including the fact that Chinese law does not recognize dual citizenship.
Moreover, Xu’s Chinese passport lists Guangdong, China as his place of birth, contradicting the Philippine birth certificate he presented.
Authorities also recovered multiple Philippine-issued documents under his Philippine name, including a birth certificate, Tax Identification Number card, postal ID, driver’s license, and a Commission on Elections registration slip — all bearing Xu’s photograph.
His immigration records likewise revealed that he held a working visa valid until 2026, which further proves he has not been naturalized as a Filipino.
The BI said the case has raised more concerns about the possible illegal acquisition and issuance of Philippine documents.
Investigators believe that Xu assumed a Filipino identity to gain benefits reserved for Filipino citizens such as property ownership, business registration, firearms licensing and possibly, even eligibility to run for public office.
“This case reflects the urgent need for stronger inter-agency coordination to curb the misuse of Philippine identity documents by foreign nationals,” Viado said.
The BI chief said they will be filing charges against Xu for violation of the Philippine Immigration Act.
“We will not tolerate any form of deception that undermines our immigration system,” he said. (PNA)
