NBI launches nationwide probe into fake Philippine birth certificates and foreign land grabs

The National Bureau of Investigation has ordered a comprehensive, nationwide inquiry into the alleged procurement of fraudulent Philippine birth certificates and the unlawful acquisition of property by foreign individuals. NBI chief Melvin Matibag said a memorandum will be sent to all regional directors and assistant directors to coordinate the effort. Early intelligence points to many suspects being Chinese, though other foreign nationals are also implicated.

The bulk of the questionable birth registrations were reported in Mindanao, particularly in North Cotabato and Davao del Sur. This investigation follows previous high-profile cases, including the conviction of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for using fake identity documents in a human-trafficking scheme tied to illegal offshore gaming (POGO) activities and accusations of espionage. Officials emphasized that the public must await the probe’s findings before drawing conclusions about the scope of the investigation.