NBI probes PH passports of foreign nationals

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now looking into the Philippine passports obtained by foreign nationals, NBI Director Medardo De Lemos said Monday.

“[U]muusad naman ang imbestigasyon ng ating Anti-Fraud [Division] saka International Operations Division,” De Lemos said in an ambush interview.

(The investigation of the Anti-Fraud Division and the International Operations Division is ongoing.)

This came after the Senate recalled the plenary approval of the proposed 2024 budget of the Philippine Statistics Authority over the alleged issuance of authentic birth certificates to foreign nationals.

According to officials, the foreign nationals pose 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.”

De Lemos said they also nabbed a foreign national trying to get an authentic PSA birth certificate.

“Meron nga kaming isang regional or district office kung saan may nahuli na foreigner na nagse-secure yata ng birth certificate. Hindi ko pa masabi ang detalye ngayon,” he said.

(We also nabbed, in our regional or district office, a foreigner who was attempting to secure a birth certificate. I can’t divulge the details right now.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News