Philippines NBI launches crackdown on fake citizenship and scam hubs

The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has launched a nationwide crackdown targeting networks involved in fraudulent citizenship documentation and organized scam operations.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag issued a memorandum ordering regional offices to dismantle networks selling forged birth certificates, passports, and other documents used to claim Filipino citizenship. The investigation aims to identify not only the foreign nationals using these papers but also the facilitators, including fixers, notaries, and corrupt officials. The bureau noted that fake identities allow individuals to illegally acquire land, control businesses reserved for citizens, and run for public office. This follows an audit by the Philippine Statistics Authority that identified approximately 5,000 foreign nationals, primarily Chinese, who registered using such methods.

In a related operation, NBI agents raided a scam hub in Subic, Zambales, resulting in the apprehension of 200 Vietnamese nationals. The facility operated with organized shifts and a dedicated payments desk to move money through various bank and e-wallet accounts. The NBI is currently screening the individuals to determine if they are victims of human trafficking. The bureau is coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration and the Vietnamese Embassy regarding the welfare and repatriation of those involved.