By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking to overhaul the country’s civil registration system to prevent foreign nationals from fraudulently acquiring Philippine citizenship, following the controversial case of former Bamban mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping.
“Gusto natin ng bagong Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system para wala nang sumulpot na isa na namang Alice Guo, ‘yung nagpapanggap na Pilipino at gustong makapasok sa gobyerno para manloko,” Gatchalian said in a news release Tuesday.
The lawmaker filed the proposed Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act, which seeks to establish a modern and streamlined registration system to accurately determine an individual’s identity for administrative and legal purposes.
The measure raises penalties for forging civil registry documents, providing false information during registration, and aiding the production of fraudulent records.
Gatchalian cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicating that, as of November 2024, at least 1,627 suspicious birth certificates tied to foreign nationals have been flagged, with 18 cases endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General for cancellation.
A recent court ruling found Guo to be “undoubtedly Chinese,” reinforcing concerns over gaps in the country’s identity verification systems.
“The bill is part of a broader effort to protect national security and uphold the integrity of public service,” Gatchalian said.
“We must ensure that only legitimate Filipinos have access to public office and government benefits,” he added. (PNA)
