MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday raised a national security alarm following the arrest of an alleged fake Filipino who managed to join the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA).
Hontiveros wants Senate to probe Chinese who pretended to be Filipino
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently detained businessman Joseph Sy for reportedly holding fraudulently-acquired Philippine documents.
The senator likened Sy's arrest to the case of Alice Guo. Guo was elected as Bamban, Tarlac mayor in May 2022 but she was removed from office by the Ombudsman after a series of congressional inquiries revealed she is Chinese.
, This news data comes from:http://setaqhco.gyglfs.com
The Ombudsman removed Guo as mayor on August 13, 2024 for grave misconduct for her involvement in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators in Tarlac.
"Although the PCGA is voluntary and non-government, it is quite concerning that Sy managed to access people and events during which national security was discussed," Hontiveros said in Filipino.
“If this businessman is indeed a Chinese national masquerading as Filipino, the Senate must immediately probe his affiliations, background, and the circumstances under which he obtained his Philippine documents," she said in a statement.
"We should look into who enabled him and how deep his network goes,” Hontiveros added.
- Giovanni Lopez pledges to continue and expand DOTr reforms
- Discaya’s construction companies competed against each other during biddings
- 1 in 4 people lack access to safe drinking water — UN
- Chinese research vessel spotted near Philippine coast but 'goes dark' after, says maritime expert
- LPA off Leyte has low chance of becoming cyclone within 24 hours —Pagasa
- Govt debt swells to record P17.58T
- ‘God’s Influencer’ to become first millennial saint
- Zelenskyy meets European leaders on Ukraine security guarantees
- IBP to form good governance panel
- Peace efforts in limbo as Kyiv mourns 23 dead
