By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Thursday commended the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for its proactive move to revoke birth certificates fraudulently obtained by foreign nationals.
In a statement, Hontiveros emphasized that the government must ensure that no foreign national takes advantage of the country’s institutions in the new year.
“Ngayong bagong taon, dapat New Year’s resolution na ng gobyerno ang matiyak na walang dayuhan ang mananamantala ng ating mga institusyon (This new year, the government’s New Year’s resolution should be to ensure that no foreigner takes advantage of our institutions),” she said.
Hontiveros noted that more foreign nationals may still be exploiting Philippine birth certificates for illegal purposes, urging authorities to act swiftly to identify and prosecute them.
“Let us be vigilant about efforts of POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) criminals to obtain Filipino citizenship by whatever means,” she added.
Hontiveros also called on the OSG to focus on recovering properties illegally acquired by POGOs.
These properties, she said, should be repurposed to provide compensation for survivors of human trafficking, in line with the provisions of the Anti-Financial Account and Scamming Act.
The senator also called on lawmakers to pass the Anti-POGO Act this year.
POGO assets forfeiture
Senator Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, urged his colleagues to pass a proposed bill forfeiting all POGO properties now that their operation has officially ended under Executive Order 74 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Villanueva earlier filed Senate Bill 2868, or an Act Banning and Declaring the Illegal Offshore Gaming Operations.
Under the bill, all buildings or other structures or facilities, materials, gaming equipment, and gaming paraphernalia used directly or indirectly in violation of this Act, and the proceeds of such illegal act or activity, shall be forfeited in favor of the government and may be disposed of in accordance with existing laws, rules, and regulations and the gaming equipment and gaming paraphernalia shall be destroyed by the seizing authority.
“We hope that this does not stop with those already identified but should expand proactively, in coordination with other relevant agencies,” Villanueva said
He also backed the OSG’s move to revoke fraudulent birth certificates issued to foreign POGO workers.
“The case of Alice Guo has shown us the magnitude and extent of the problem of foreign nationals illegally acquiring Philippine citizenship, passports, and government identification cards,“ Villanueva said. (With Leonel Abasola/PNA)
