Deportation poised vs. mining executive Joseph Sy 

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is preparing the deportation proceedings against nickel businessman Joseph Sy over alleged falsification of his Filipino citizenship. 

According to Dano Tingtungco’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the chairperson of Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. is currently detained at the Immigration Detention Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. 

The BI added that it is also looking into other individuals who could have helped him with his citizenship. 

“We are looking at big people already. We’re looking at people of influence already. Kasi ang concern natin ngayon is not that detail anymore, it’s more of national security…If there were people involved in protecting him or assisting him, ayan po ay lalabas sa (that will come out in) later investigation,” said BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval. 

Sy was arrested on August 21 after his biometrics matched those of a Chinese citizen.  The businessman’s firm sought his release, noting that Sy is a holder of a valid Philippine passport. 

“This charge is without lawful basis. Mr. Sy is a Filipino citizen, as affirmed in multiple rulings by government agencies and institutions,” said Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. 

“Upon his recent arrival in the Philippines, Mr. Sy presented his valid Philippine passport - by law, an official proof of his Filipino nationality… Mr. Sy has never been involved in any criminal activity,” it added.

The Philippine Nickel Industry Association called the arrest unjust and unfair, as Sy was already proven as a Filipino citizen when he had an immigration case before. But the BI said that the businessman’s case is different this time. 

“Nagkaroon na siya ng immigration case, I think way back 2014 or 2015, also for the same thing, for misrepresentation.  It stemmed from a complaint of an individual. There were no other proof na nakita sa investigation, so ang kaso na ito ay na-dismiss,” said Sandoval. “

Ngayon, it’s different because government intelligence sources have given us a name. At itong Chinese name na ito ay cross-matched with our records at doon lumabas yung biometric information ng Chinese individual at nung Filipino individual na ito," she added.

(He already had an immigration case, I think way back in 2014 or 2015, also for the same thing, for misrepresentation. It stemmed from a complaint of an individual. There was no other proof found in the investigation, so this case was dismissed. Now, it's different because government intelligence sources have given us a name. And this Chinese name was cross-matched with our records, and that's where the biometric information of the Chinese individual and this Filipino individual came out.) 

“If you were born of foreign parents, parehas foreigner yung magulang mo, walang source yung nationality mo, hindi ka pwedeng maging Pilipino. There’s no reason for you. Unless you are a naturalized Filipino citizen, which this person did not do and which this person does not claim,” he added.

(If you were born of foreign parents, and both your parents are foreigners, there is no source for your nationality, you cannot become a Filipino. There's no reason for you. Unless you are a naturalized Filipino citizen, which this person did not do and which this person does not claim.) 

Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission said that it is monitoring Sy’s arrest and studying the possible actions it can undertake within its capacity.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday flagged the enlisting of Sy as part of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Auxiliary unit, saying Sy is just posing as a Filipino like ousted Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

The PCG then announced on Tuesday that it has delisted Sy from its Auxiliary unit over misrepresentation of his citizenship. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF/KG, GMA Integrated News