On Chinese nat’ls with PH passports

SENATE has launched an investigation into the presence of Chinese nationals in the country who have acquired authentic government clearances, including birth certificates, which enabled them to get Philippine passports, as exposed by the Journal Group last week.

Last November 5, the Journal Group carried an exclusive story on the presence of numerous Chinese mainlanders who can’t speak English and Filipino but who are now carrying Philippine passports, which are believed to have been acquired by paying rogue government employees assigned in different clearance and registration offices in the country.

On Thursday, the Senate recalled the plenary approval of the proposed 2024 budget of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) over the controversy.

The move was made after Senator Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa revealed that he has been informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) about the presence of 10 foreigners with genuine Philippine passports.

The sponsor of the budget of the DFA, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, likewise said she had been informed by the DFA that it has discovered that the “foreign nationals pose themselves as Filipinos through the presentation of authentic and genuine PSA birth certificate, with valid government-issued ID cards that are accepted for a passport application.”

The Senate said it will pursue the filing of cases against these foreigners with the assistance of the PSA, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Immigration and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to prevent similar cases in the future.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva also revealed that the DFA’s initial investigation indicated that the documents were actually verified by the PSA, prompting him to move for the recall of the budget of the agency which the Senate already approved last Wednesday.

Senate President Jose Miguel Zubiri also revealed he has gotten information from the NBI that a civil registry office in Caraga region has been giving out birth certificates to several Chinese that do not speak English or any Filipino language.

The senators expressed alarm regarding the presence of these Chinese nationals with Philippine passports since it already involves “national security.”

“Baka mamaya itong mga Chinese-speaking individuals who are not really Filipinos baka nagkalat na ‘yung passports na sa kanila,” Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, said.

“And before we know it, we are already being surrounded by operatives from maybe People’s Liberation Army or whatever, whoever those people are. Talagang delikado ang sitwasyon natin kung ito ay pababayaan,” Dela Rosa said.

The Journal Group last week reported the matter citing information from several ranking security officials.

The discovery of this anomaly comes in the wake of a widely-read post of former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Rafael S. Alunan III regarding the alleged presence of “Chinese sleeper cells” in the country.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, some ranking security officials said they are investigating hundreds, if not thousands, of citizens of mainland China who have been issued government clearances and other permits which allow them to have a Philippine passport.

“We have checked the clearances issued and found out that they are all included in the official online records of concerned government agencies. They are not fake documents,” said one of the officials involved in an ongoing government investigation into the anomaly.

Apart from the birth certificates which allowed them to acquire Philippine passports, many of the Chinese nationals being probed have been issued driver’s license, tax identification number, license to own and possess firearm, NBI and police clearances.

As a rule, only a Filipino citizen is eligible to acquire a Philippine passport.

First-time passport applicants are required to present a copy of their PSA issued birth certificate, among other documents and identification cards. Married women who wish to use their married last name in their passports are also required to present a copy of their PSA issued marriage certificate.

However, the Journal Group sources said what they are investigating are pure Chinese nationals who have acquired Philippine passport and other government clearances illegally.

At present, Filipino citizenship may be acquired by any interested foreigner who has made significant contributions to the country’s cause and well-being through a naturalization bill filed by any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or through a court decision.

Foreign nationals may also naturalize as Philippine citizens after meeting a minimum residence requirement which is usually 10 years, acquiring real estate, demonstrating proficiency in either English or Spanish as well as a Philippine language, and fulfilling a good character requirement and must have not been convicted of any crime during the 10-year period.

A Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) may also be given to a foreigner who is at least 35 years old if he wishes to settle in the country. The SRRV granted by the Philippine Retirement Authority allows the beneficiary to reside indefinitely in the country with free entry and exit provided that it is renewed annually.

Officials who were interviewed by the Journal Group, however, expressed belief that the Chinese nationals in their radar did not acquire their Philippine passport through any of the naturalization method mentioned above.

“We are inclined to believe that many of them are working in POGOs, or owning and operating big businesses in different parts of Metro Manila and the rest of the country. You can’t talk to them in English, Filipino or any other language but they carry Philippine passport,” said one security official, referring to the Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO).

Prior to that, former DILG chief Alunan in a Facebook post said that last October 16, NBI agents raided a house in Valle Verde 5 in Pasig City where six Chinese nationals and their two Filipino security personnel were detained.

Reacting on Alunan’s post, one official said he has been saying it from the very start.

“There are enablers in our midst. They are aplenty, and they could be wittingly or unwittingly promoting the interest of China in one way or another,” the official said in reaction to the Philippine passports and other genuine government papers issued to Chinese mainlanders.

Another police official said that the NBI raid is also an “eye-opener.” “It’s high time for all of us Filipinos to unite, be patriotic and support our government in this fight,” he said.

PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. earlier assured the public that they are taking all necessary measures to protect the nation’s interests amid Alunan’s statement on alleged presence in the country of clandestine forces from China.

Acorda said PNP’s intelligence units are constantly communicating with their counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, NBI, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the like to ensure that the “national interest will be always protected.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon