BI urges stricter issuance of PH IDs

The Bureau of Immigration building. (PNA file photo)

By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency

In a statement on Saturday, June 28, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) urged all government agencies responsible for issuing official Philippine documents to tighten their processes to prevent foreign nationals from fraudulently acquiring Filipino identities.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado expressed alarm over the increasing misuse of Philippine documents by illegal aliens, saying it poses a serious national security threat.

“This poses a risk to national security as these aliens are able to embed themselves in society, perhaps doing illegal activities by using someone else’s identity,” Viado said in a news release.

“We have raised this concern before and we are raising it again. There is a need to review policies on the issuance of Philippine documents to prevent this from happening again,” he added.

The Immigration chief issued the statement following the arrest of a 45-year-old Chinese, who had been posing as a Filipino in Daet, Camarines Norte.

The illegal alien, identified as Wu Zhishi, was caught on June 25 using fraudulently obtained Philippine identification (ID) cards, including one presented to obtain a firearm license.

Wu, who initially presented an expired retiree’s visa and denied wrongdoing, is now under the custody of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, pending deportation proceedings. (PNA)

Popular

Palace questions credibility of citizen complaint submitted to ICI

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet On the heels of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s (ICI) receipt of a letter of sentiment from a private citizen on...

PBBM hails dedication to public service of 2025 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos awardees

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet “They remind us that integrity and excellence must be at the heart of the work that we all do.” Amid the various...

Palace supports calls for ICI empowerment

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet “Nararamdaman po ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon ang nararamdaman ng mga businessman kaya po patuloy ang ginagawang pag-iimbestiga, at patuloy ang...

PBBM encourages Filipinos to remain prepared for disasters

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet “Higit sa pagbangon o pagresponde, mas mahalaga ang maging handa.” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of disaster preparedness and...