A bill seeking to terminate fraudulently acquired birth certificates by foreign nationals is being pushed by the House Quad Committee.
On Wednesday, November 20, the Quad panel filed House Bill no. 11117 or the Fraudulent Birth Certificate Cancellation Law. The bill permits the government to terminate bogus birth certificates acquired by foreign nationals, including those who were involved in illegal drug operations and activities associated with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
The Committee cited that in Davao del Sur alone, a reported 1,200 falsified birth certificates were issued by the local civil register in July 2024.
“Since then, the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) have been consistently urged by Congress to double-down their investigation on these issuances as it was obvious that these foreigners must have gotten aid from public officers from local civil registry offices,” the bill’s explanatory note said.
Its filing came after recent events revealed thousands of foreigners were able to secure the most basic documents required by the state. The Quad Committee stressed that the document provides Filipino citizens with vast opportunities that are unavailable to foreigners, like practicing a profession, pursuing certain businesses, or even running for public office.
Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe announced during the Senate’s 29th session earlier in November that 1,627 birth certificates were blocked by the PSA after its investigation deemed the documents to be spurious.
Aside from the cancellation of the birth certificates, government officials are also focused on finding which government officials or workers approved of the documents.
Bill para agad na makansela ang pekeng mga birth certificate na gamit ng mga dayuhan, isinumite na sa Kamara | RH 12 @milkyrigonan, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/NEvCZjARMX
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) November 20, 2024
The bill was filed at the House of Representatives Bills and Index Division, by Quad Comm Chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, Abang-Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro.
