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).
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently detained businessman Joseph Sy for reportedly holding fraudulently-acquired Philippine documents.
Hontiveros wants Senate to probe Chinese who pretended to be Filipino
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://oylf-efv-ecfn-ii.yamato-syokunin.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.
- Typhoon death toll rises in Vietnam as downed trees hamper rescuers
- President Marcos launches HD Hyundai Shipyard in Subic
- Marcos names acting Ombudsman
- North Korea's Kim Jong Un travels to Beijing to watch military parade alongside Putin, Xi Jinping
- PH, Japan conduct search and rescue exercises
- Diokno urges Philippines to rejoin ICC to counter China's aggression
- NATO members to reach 2% defense spending goal this year
- North Korean leader inspects new missile factory ahead of visit to China
- La Niña forecast from Sept-Dec, expect more tropical cyclones, above normal rainfall -- Pagasa
- Kris Aquino is alive, says friend amid reports of death
