Philippines fake ID scandal: 1,000 more cases linked to Chinese nationals found
- Widening case prompted authorities to extend investigation into southern part of the country amid fears of espionage and illegal businesses
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Jaime Santiago told reporters on Monday that the head of the civil registry office in Santa Cruz since 1994, Mario Tizon, had been suspended following the scandal.
“The actual number has grown to 1,200,” Santiago said.
The NBI, which earlier reported that 200 cases were traced in the same southern region last week, has widened its probe in Luzon Island areas, particularly in the provinces of Pampanga and Tarlac, known to host illegal offshore gaming operations (Pogos) linked to the Chinese.
A source inside the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) told This Week in Asia, there could still be a huge number of birth registrations given to foreigners in past years.
“They took advantage of the late registration scheme since it’s easy to have someone’s birth registered,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.