Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro urged Congress to strengthen the existing rules on Filipino citizenship applications and rights during the joint public hearing of the House Quad-Committee on Thursday, September 19.
During the congresswoman's interpellation, she mentioned how the long chain and perpetration of crime, began with the abuse of late birth registrations in the country. She added how Alice Guo’s procurement of her birth certificate and passport from the Philippines paved the avenue for her to run for public office.
The fictitious birth certificate also played a crucial role in soliciting identification cards (IDs) from several government offices which includes: the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and similar other government offices.
“I urge the House; Let us strengthen our rules because of the loose rules on Filipino citizenship, including the rights attached to it. Which must be exclusive to Filipino nationals, then we will be at the behest of perpetrators of illegal activity,” the congresswoman stressed.
Moreover, Luistro mentioned how several of the documents submitted, were made to appear like the corporations were authentic and existing. She added how the Philippine government has a difficult time verifying and monitoring the illegal activities of these foreign nationals.
“I wish to suggest that we install a monitoring system with the sect, we wish to recommend to the sect that they install a monitoring system to make sure that the application for registration is legit, the operation is genuine, and the location is indeed existing,” she stated.
“Illegal activities and illegal POGOs will not proliferate if they are not able to transfer money. So I humbly suggest as well that we tighten our rules on money laundering. Hindi sila makakapag perpetrate ng illegal activities if there are no funds which will proliferate their illegal activities,” Luistro ended.
