Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed concerns over the potential prevalence of foreign nationals masquerading as Filipinos following the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) revelation that suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is actually Chinese national Guo Hua Ping. This conclusion was drawn based on fingerprint analysis.
“The Senate is currently probing reports of foreigners acquiring land and potentially exploiting the late registration of births process,” Gatchalian stated.
In an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo, he emphasized the need to thoroughly investigate this issue. “We need to look at the entirety of what’s happening. I believe there are many more ‘Alice Guos’ out there who aren’t as high-profile,” Gatchalian said. He noted that Guo’s case gained attention due to her political position and a raid on a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) compound in her town. However, he warned that there might be other foreign nationals similarly acquiring land despite the prohibition on foreign ownership.
Gatchalian highlighted ongoing investigations into reports of foreigners purchasing land to establish businesses by using fraudulent birth certificates. “We have received reports that, allegedly, there are Chinese or other foreign nationals buying land in various parts of our country,” he remarked.
Senator Risa Hontiveros added that Guo Hua Ping arrived in the Philippines as a teenager on a Chinese passport. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has since recommended the cancellation of Guo’s birth certificate.
Gatchalian concluded by urging a broader investigation into these practices to uncover the full extent of the problem. “We need to examine the bigger picture to understand the modus operandi of these individuals,” he asserted.
