Mining group demands release of Joseph Sy, calling arrest by BI unlawful

A mining group has called for the immediate release of a businessman named Joseph Sy, who was arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Filipino citizen.

Senator Risa Hontiveros compared Sy to Alice Guo, a Chinese national on trial for running for public office in violation of Philippine laws, suggesting that Sy may be a national security concern.

The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA), however, maintains that Sy is a Filipino citizen and claims his citizenship has been affirmed by the Office of the President.

PNIA president Dante Bravo stated that Sy's arrest was unlawful and likened it to illegal detention, arguing that the BI lacks jurisdiction over citizens.

Bravo also noted that Sy had joined the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary as a volunteer, which he described as normal given Sy's claimed Filipino citizenship.