House probe sought into special resident visas, delayed registration of births

MANILA -- Four lawmakers have sought a House inquiry into the reported abuse of special resident visas and delayed registration of births, amid the influx of Chinese nationals in the Philippines.

House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party List Rep. Erwin Tulfo, Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Tulfo, ACT-CIS Party List Rep. Edvic Yap, and Benguet Rep. Eric Yap filed on Tuesday House Resolution 1771 urging the appropriate committee of the House of Representatives to conduct the probe and determine whether the policies on Special Resident Retiree’s Visas, the Special Investor’s Resident Visas, and the delayed registration of births align with the national interest and security.

“Marami tayong problema sa WPS, problema dito sa mga Chinese na nakapasok sa ating bansa gamit ang iba't ibang klaseng visa. We don't know. We don't know kung talagang businessman, may business ba talaga sila rito or spying. We don't know,” Tulfo said.

The inquiry will seek to determine whether there were circumvention of Philippine laws through these policies, and whether they aid in the commission of illegal activities by foreign nationals, according to Tulfo. 

He noted that of the around 78,000 foreign retirees allowed to permanently reside in the country, more than 30,000 are Chinese nationals.

“Ang nakapagtataka, hindi pa dapat sila retired, pero nabibigyan na sila ng visa. Kasi the ages are 35 hanggang 50. So, mabuti na lang, couple of years ago, tinaasan ito, ginawang 50 years old. Otherwise, masyadong naabuso. Ganoon din sa investor's visa, wala namang milyun-milyong in-invest dito, pero may mga investor's visa. ‘Yung iba, mga trabahante lang ng POGO pero naka-investor's visa,” Tulfo told the media.

“Pagkatapos, ‘yung late registration ng birth certificate. Siguro nakita n’yo naman ‘yung isang LGU mayor na nagpa-late registration. Ayon sa aking impormante, dito nagkakaproblema sa local civil registrar, nakakapagparehistro sila, late registration. Kaya ‘yung tao, hindi marunong mag-Tagalog, may Philippine passport, kasi pinrisinta niya sa DFA ‘yung kanyang Philippine birth certificate na late registration siya,” he added.

“The Speaker called me up yesterday and he told me kung pwede… ma-imbestigahan. So, ito tayo. We're filing a resolution. Nasa out of town lang si Speaker pero there was an instruction na we should look into this. Mukhang naabuso, may mga pang-aabuso dito sa pagbibigay ng retiree's visa, investor's visa at saka yung late registration,” Tulfo noted.

He disclosed that some Chinese nationals in the Philippines filed complaints against Filipino nationals to delay deportation.

“’Yung bagong modus ngayon na we just discovered na nagsasampa sila ng kaso para tumagal sila dito, hindi sila basta-basta ma-deport ng Bureau of Immigration,” the lawmaker said.

House Resolution 1771 mentioned the case of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, which it said “uncovered uncertainties and potential risks for abuse in the process of delayed registration of births”.

Tulfo said Guo will be invited to attend the House hearing.

“Kailangan natin malaman paano niya nagawa ‘yun. Kasi ‘yung kanyang mga parents, ‘di malaman kung sino mga parents, paano nangyari? Kumbaga sa atin, parang putok sa buho, pero mayroong birth certificate, may Philippine passport,” he told the media.

Guo became controversial after being linked to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO), and for allegedly having questionable citizenship.

BAN POGOs?

Amid calls from several lawmakers to ban POGOs in the country, Tulfo said those involved in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations should be held accountable.

“Depende. Kasi sinasabi ng PAGCOR, they're contributing naman sa kaban ng bayan, kasi billions ‘yun na nakukuha ng PAGCOR. Siguro I will go for like lahat ng illegal, trabaho na ng PAOCC, na Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, dapat ‘yun ang mga hulihin,” he said.

Last February, a panel approved House Bill 5082 seeking to ban POGOs in the country, but it has yet to be tackled at the plenary. 

Last week, the Makabayan bloc at the lower chamber also filed House Bill 10525 seeking to prohibit and criminalize offshore gaming operations in the Philippines. 

The measure also proposes to revoke the licenses granted to POGOs. This comes amid a spate of crimes being linked to illegal POGOs in the country.

Tulfo said these bills should be tackled by the House of Representatives when Congress resumes session in July.