- Sta. Cruz LCR official, 3 others face raps over birth certificate scam
THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation XI has filed a case against a Local Civil Registrar-Sta Cruz official and three job order clerks over spurious birth certificates.
During the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” program at NCCC Victoria Plaza Mall on Tuesday, Oct. 1, NBI XI director Atty. Arcelito Albaon said the case arose from the issuance of birth certificates without proper procedures.
Albao said the NBI has already filed three cases before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao for violations of the Law on Registry of Civil Status, Falsification of Public Documents, Perjury, and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act on Aug. 19, Sept. 10, and Sept. 18 of this year.
“We have filed a total of four cases, including one against their chief, with 44 counts involving different violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Falsification of Public Documents, and the Law on Registry of Civil Status,” he added.
He noted that the first case was filed in the last week of August, with two additional cases filed in September.
“And hopefully this week, we can file another case, depending on what we uncover and who is involved in the issuance of spurious birth certificates. One thing is certain: those who registered under the name Mario Tizon, as well as the clerks who received and prepared these certificates, are documented,” he further explained.
Currently, Tizon has been suspended by the LGU of Sta. Cruz and transferred to another department while the contracts of the involved clerks were not renewed.
A thorough investigation revealed that 102 alleged Chinese nationals obtained birth certificates from the Local Civil Registrar of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, through delayed or late registrations in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
“Based on our investigation of the initial 102 birth certificates, we segregated them by year and discovered that in 2021 there were 24 birth certificates. We have recommended filing cases against the LCR of Sta. Cruz and its clerks,” he said.
For 2019, the NBI XI found 20 spurious birth certificates and recommended filing 24 counts against the LCR of Sta. Cruz.
In 2018, the agency discovered 56 spurious birth certificates.
“Hopefully, by this week, we will forward the records of the first 20 spurious birth certificates with the same recommendation to file cases against the LCR of Sta. Cruz and other clerks,” he added.
“For now, we are recommending 44 counts of violations of the Law on Registry of Civil Status, Falsification of Public Documents, and Graft and Corruption,” he noted.
Photo courtesy of Rhoda Grace B Saron
