NBI flags 50,000 fake birth certificatesThe NBI said high-risk areas include Pikit and Aleosan towns in North Cotabato, where cases have already been filed against several civil registry officials and other people involved in the scheme. MANILA, Philippines — More than 50,000 suspected fake birth certificates have been recorded in over 1,600 civil registry offices nationwide, according to the National Bureau of Investigation. The NBI said high-risk areas include Pikit and Aleosan towns in North Cotabato, where cases have already been filed against several civil registry officials and other people involved in the scheme. Authorities said the suspects failed to follow legal protocols in processing late birth registrations, using falsified documents. The NBI said foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, were among the primary beneficiaries, using fake identities to obtain Filipino civil status and citizenship.

Source: Philippine Star March 20, 2026 17:25 UTC