The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has blocked 1,627 questionable late birth registrations filed by foreign nationals, a discovery made following an in-depth investigation.
Senator Grace Poe reported these findings during her defense of the PSA’s proposed 2025 budget in a Senate plenary session. According to Poe, the PSA has provided the names of these foreign nationals to key government agencies, including the Bureau of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“Out of those cases, 18 have been endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for cancellation,” Poe noted, referencing the case of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (also known as Guo Hua Ping) as an example.
Poe added that the involved local government units have also been informed about officials who may have facilitated these registrations, and the NBI is actively investigating to pursue potential charges.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, who initially raised the issue with Poe, inquired about ongoing PSA reforms to prevent similar incidents.
“Late registration is crucial for our citizens, especially those in remote areas with limited access to PSA offices. However, we cannot allow it to be so easily exploited for fraud,” Hontiveros stated in Filipino.
In response, Poe confirmed that the PSA has introduced new safeguards, including ID photos and biometrics as additional requirements under the national ID system.
Poe also shared that, after a thorough data analytics review, the PSA identified 14.89 million late birth registrations filed between 2010 and 2024. Of these, 50,532—or approximately 0.34 percent—are currently under audit.