MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian exposed an alleged scheme of processing primary documents such as birth certificates, passports and driver’s licenses among others for Php 300,000.00, as informed by a source from the Chinese community.
“Sinabi nila sa akin na ang running price pala para makakuha ng birth certificate — kasama na [ang] passport, kasama na ang driver’s license is P300,000,” he told reporters.
Gatchallian’s revelation supplements the report of the National Bureau of Investigation that uncovered close to 200 falsified birth certificates issued to Chinese nationals from 2018 to 2019 in Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur.
The senator said this scheme is “very concerning” as it suggests the operation of a syndicate behind the issuance of Philippine documents to Chinese nationals.
“Once may birth certificate na, madali nang kunin yung iba. So yun ang narinig ko sa Chinese community na umiikot ngayon dahil nga lumabas na ito. Pumutok itong issue na ito eh, so apparently, meron pala talagang ganyan na modus [kung] gustong kumuha ng pekeng birth certificate,” he said.
