The Office of AML Adiong clarifies charged employees from civil registrar of Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur, not Davao City
THE Office of Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur clarified Monday night that his earlier statement that those charged on the alleged issuance of fake birth certificates to Chinese nationals involved four employees from the municipal civil registrar of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur — not Davao City.
“We would like to correct a typographical error in the press release issued on March 23, 2025, titled ‘House leader welcomes raps vs. 4 Davao civil registrar employees aiding Chinese nationals; should look for similar modus elsewhere.’” the office of Adiong said.
“The statement referred to the alleged issuance of fake birth certificates to Chinese nationals and involved four employees from the municipal civil registrar of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur — not Davao City. We sincerely apologize for the oversight and any confusion it may have caused,” it added.
Adiong welcomed the filing of criminal charges against four employees over the alleged issuance of fraudulent birth certificates for Chinese nationals, saying this could be part of a broader scheme that must be investigated nationwide.
“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.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier filed falsification and cybercrime charges against four civil registrar employees, after an investigation found they were linked to the issuance of fake birth records to Chinese nationals who assumed Filipino identities.
The forged documents were used to secure passports, enabling these individuals to enter and work in the country legally.
“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.
The Davao City Civil Registrar’s Office (CRO) clarified that it has no jurisdiction over birth registrations handled by local civil registrars outside Davao City, including those in Davao del Sur.
The Davao City Civil Registrar’s Office refuted earlier reports any linking the office to the recent issue and confirm that no employees from the office are involved or have been charged in connection with the incident.
It appealed to media outlets to verify information carefully and help ensure accurate reporting as it remained committed to transparency and the integrity of public service.
