The National Bureau of Investigation will investigate how foreigners obtain Philippine passports.

On November 13, local time, Medado de Lemos (Medardo G. de Lemos), director of the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), said that the agency is investigating reports that foreigners have illegally obtained Philippine passports.

Earlier, the Philippine Senate recalled the plenary meeting on the Philippine Bureau of Statistics suspected of issuing Philippine birth certificates to foreigners and postponed the passage of the agency's 2024 budget.

According to officials, these foreigners impersonated Filipinos by "presenting a genuine Philippine Bureau of Statistics birth certificate and a valid government-issued ID card that can be used for passport applications.

The National Bureau of National Affairs said it had previously arrested a foreigner trying to obtain a Philippine birth certificate, but could not disclose details for the time being.

The Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Statistics are cooperating to investigate seven foreigners holding Philippine passports previously arrested by the Immigration Bureau. Initial investigations showed that six Chinese citizens successfully applied for Philippine passports with fake birth certificates, while the birth certificate of another was confirmed to be genuine.

At the same time, the senators also sought the National Intelligence Coordination Agency (NICA) and the National Security Council to investigate the incident and provide necessary assistance to the National Bureau of Investigation, saying that the matter has involved "national security".

Senator Lisa Hontivelos (Hontiveros) said: "It is clear that foreign citizens, especially Chinese employees of online gambling companies, have fraudulently obtained identity documents from the government administration and the Philippine health insurance company, while some foreigners are reportedly able to purchase birth certificates, which are the most important documents for applying for Philippine passports. These documents may have national security implications."