Sen Gatchalian files bill for CRVS system to prevent foreign citizenship fraud

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a bill proposing a new civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system to prevent foreign nationals from fraudulently acquiring Philippine citizenship, following the controversial case of former Bamban mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping.

The proposed Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act aims to implement a modern, streamlined registration process for accurate identity verification.

Gatchalian cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicating that at least 1,627 suspicious birth certificates tied to foreign nationals have been flagged, with 18 cases endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General for cancellation.

The bill raises penalties for forging civil registry documents and providing false information during registration.

A recent court ruling found Guo to be 'undoubtedly Chinese,' reinforcing concerns over gaps in the country's identity verification systems.

Gatchalian emphasized that the new system is crucial to protect national security and uphold the integrity of public service, ensuring only legitimate Filipinos have access to public office and government benefits.