Leaders of the House Quad Committee on Wednesday filed a bill that seeks to cancel birth certificates obtained fraudulently by foreign nationals, including those involved in illicit drug operations and other criminal activities linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). .

By submitting Chamber Law (HB) no. 11117, or the “Fraudulent Birth Certificate Cancellation Act,” lawmakers want to establish an administrative process for revoking fake birth certificates, noting that the current process requires a court decision, which could take years.

“The birth certificate is the most basic document that a Filipino citizen must have,” the bill’s explanatory note reads.

“It is a document that confers to the state that a person is Filipino and opens up vast opportunities unavailable to foreigners, such as practicing a profession, carrying on certain businesses or even running for public office,” it said. said.

House Senior Vice President Dong Gonzales Jr.; Vice President Jay-Jay Suarez; Quad Comm Chairmen Robert Ace Barbers, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Dan Fernandez and Joseph Stephen Paduano; and Quad Comm Vice President Romeo Acop tabled the measure.

According to the bill, a special committee would be created to cancel fraudulent birth certificates. It would be tasked with investigating complaints, citing evidence and issuing decisions on fraudulent birth certificates within 30 days of receiving the evidence.

It would be headed by the Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), with members from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General.

Complaints can be filed by any citizen of legal age or law enforcement agency and must include specific evidence, such as the name of the foreign national, details of the fraudulent birth certificate, and the circumstances of its acquisition.

The alien would have 15 days to respond to the complaint, after which the commission would conduct hearings and make a decision based on substantial evidence.

Decisions would be immediately enforceable, but could be appealed to the President, who must resolve the appeal within 30 days.

Public officials and individuals involved in facilitating fraudulent registrations will be penalized under the proposed law.

This is the third bill to result from Quad Comm investigations.

Earlier this month, HB 11043, or the proposed “Civil Forfeiture Act,” was filed, which seeks to authorize the government to seize real estate illegally acquired by foreign nationals, particularly those related to POGOs.

Also filed was HB 10987, or the “Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act,” which seeks to institutionalize a nationwide POGO ban, strengthening President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive. to protect public safety and national security from POGO-related criminal activities.—Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News