The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has taken into custody a Chinese man accused of pretending to be a Filipino after presenting falsified Philippine documents upon his arrival in Manila.
The suspect, who flew in from Hong Kong on August 21 via Cathay Pacific, was intercepted by immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. Authorities said he was already the subject of a mission order following intelligence reports that he had acquired Philippine citizenship papers through illegal means.
Upon inspection, the man was found holding a Philippine passport issued in 2021 along with several local identity cards bearing his name. However, a fingerprint check by the BI’s Alien Registration Division confirmed that he is a Chinese citizen who previously held a long-term visa and an Alien Certificate Registration Identity Card.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado stressed that foreign nationals cannot simply assume Filipino identity without due process. “Without naturalization, a foreign national is not eligible to get Philippine citizenship documents,” Viado said. He further noted that intelligence agencies suspect this case to be similar to that of Alice Guo, who was earlier accused of assuming a false Filipino identity.
Officials also disclosed that the man is linked to several major businesses in the Philippines and has been active in economic groups in the country.
The suspect is now detained at the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig, while facing deportation proceedings for misrepresentation.
