President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into reports about a fake appointment letter for the position of Bureau of Immigration (BI) commissioner, Malacañang announced on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

In a press conference, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Marcos tasked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) through Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla and Interior Secretary Benjamin "Benjur" Abalos to lead the investigation.

Citing the revised penal code of the Philippines, Cruz-Angeles said the "forging of the great seal of the government, the signature of the president, and the stamp of the president" are punished by reclusion temporal, or 12 to 20 years imprisonment.

Media outlets that published the report are placed in a “unique position” to provide the source of the fake appointment letter, she added.

"Wini-welcome natin ang kahit na anong impormasyon tungkol sa pag-prosecute sa kaso na ito kung susuportahan ito ng ebidensya through the investigation," she added.

She emphasized the seriousness of the matter and said that such signed documents could not just cause confusion but may lead to further crimes.

“‘Yung ganitong klaseng crime can cause instability and ito po ang pangunahin sa isip ng ating pangulo na magkaka-gulo kung ganito yung pababayaan natin mangyari,” she asserted.

The Palace on Monday announced that Marcos Jr. has yet to name an immigration chief.

The statement was released following media reports that a copy of the formal appointment letter to Abraham G. Espejo Jr. has been circulating on social media.