Senators call for deeper probe on fake birth certificates

Senators are calling for a deeper investigation into the culprits working to produce fake birth certificates amid the hundreds of cases in Davao del Sur as reported by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

"I think that is only the 'tip of the iceberg' so to speak. The NBI should investigate further and find the real and other culprits behind this," Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said on Tuesday.

"I believe [the case of suspended Mayor Alice] Guo is not the first and will certainly not be the last to fake a birth certificate," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III tagged the report as "alarming" and called for a "comprehensive investigation on what happened there."

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who leads the investigation into the case of Mayor Alice Guo who allegedly falsified her birth certificate, said uncovering thousands of fake identities is a "clear threat to public order and national security."

"Tigilan na ang pagkakalakal sa ating pagka-Pilipino. Ang ating pagkakakilanlan o  identity ay hindi pwedeng bilhin o ibenta...Our recent legislative inquiries into POGOs have already revealed that criminal groups use fake Filipino citizenship to carry out their illicit activities. We, at the Senate, will continue to look into this alarming trend," she said.

"Somewhere out there, someone with a fake identity is trying to buy land, use Philippine passports to give himself or herself a brand new identity, form corporations, and perhaps even have the audacity to run for public office. This has been done before," she added.

Hontiveros then asked who tolerates this activity and if the individuals behind the birth certificates are protected.

"Sino ang mga nagkukunsinti nito? Sino ang mga kasabwat o protektor? Sa Davao del Sur lang ba ito nangyayari o sa buong Pilipinas? We must crack down on Filipinos who have made this possible," she said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who earlier filed a resolution seeking an investigation into fake birth certificates amid Guo's case, also agreed that the case in Davao del Sur is just the tip of the iceberg.

"For sure we are just looking at the tip. Malalim na problema ito," he said in an interview.

"We have to look at the personalities. Dahil itong birth certificate di na dumadaan sa mayor ito, local registrar pwede na siyang mag-isyu. Ganyan kapowerful ang local registrar," he noted.

He also mentioned some cases in another province in Mindanao aside from Davao del Sur and noted that these activities were done in far-flung areas because the people behind these think that it will not be detected.

"Ang tingin ko dyan akala nila hindi madedetect, hindi makikita, dahil malayo nga at hindi mahahalata pero nakita natin ngayon na ang dami palang ganitong Alice Guo cases all over the country," he said.

For Gatchalian, the late registration system should be investigated so the Bureau of Immigration, NBI, and the Department of Foreign Affairs could be "alerted" on the fake birth certificates that were issued.

The Senate blue ribbon committee has already opened the investigation into the fake birth certificates and government IDs that were issued, particularly to foreign nationals.

At least three senators earlier said they sense that there is a syndicate behind the scheme.—AOL, GMA Integrated News