BI arrests Chinese businessman for false citizenship

Immigration agents arrested a Chinese national named Chen Zhong Zhen on August 21 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 for falsely claiming Filipino citizenship.

Chen was intercepted upon arrival from Hong Kong and found to be using a Philippine passport issued in 2021 along with several Philippine identity cards, leading authorities to suspect his true status.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed through fingerprint matching that Chen is actually a Chinese citizen who previously held long-term visas but never naturalized as a Filipino citizen.

Chen reportedly owns major businesses in the Philippines and has participated in various economic and business groups, raising further suspicion about his misrepresentation.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that government intelligence sources believe this case to be similar to another instance involving Alice Guo, emphasizing the importance of verifying citizenship documents for foreign nationals.

Chen faces deportation for misrepresentation and is currently being held at the BI's holding facility in Bicutan, Taguig.