NBI, PNP to investigate ‘forged’ Marcos signature on disowned BI appointment —Palace

The National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police have been ordered to look into an alleged forgery which made it appear that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had appointed a commissioner for the Bureau of Immigration, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said on Tuesday.

Cruz-Angeles made the announcement at a news briefing a day after reports came out that Marcos had named a commissioner at the BI.

The reports were accompanied by a document indicating that the President had made the appointment.  

"Kahapon may lumabas na mga news reports tungkol sa appointment sa posisyon ng Immigrations commissioner. Kasama ng announcement na iyon ay isang dokumento na nagaattest to the appointment," Cruz-Angeles said.

(There were news reports yesterday on the alleged appointment of the Immigrations commissioner. Included in the announcement was a document supposedly attesting to the appointment.)

"Tungo dito at matapos ang pagtatanong at pagsisiyasat, wala pong dokumento na ganoon sa PMS, sa Presidential Management Staff, sa Office of the Press Secretary or sa Office of the President. Walang record ng dokumento na 'yun," she added.

(Upon checking and verification, there is no such document from the Presidential Management Staff, the Office of the Press Secretary and the Office of the President.)

Reporters on Monday asked the OPS to confirm whether a BI commissioner had been appointed.

In a statement, the OPS said, "No appointment has yet been made to the position of Immigrations Commissioner."

"We have confirmed with the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) - - which conducts complete staff work on such appointments - - that no document for the said position has been issued," the OPS said.

A document on the appointment, bearing what appeared to be Marcos' signature, also circulated.

Cruz-Angeles said one could be held liable for forging the President's signature as well as the seal of the government.

"Ayon sa Revised Penal Code Article 161, ang pag-forge ng great seal of the government, signature ng Presidente o stamp ng Presidente ay pinaparusahan ng reclusion temporal, reclusion temporal po ay 12 to 20 years," Cruz-Angeles said.

(As stated in the Article 161 of the Revised Penal Code, forging the great seal of the government, the President's signature or the President's stamp could be penalized with reclusion temporal that may last from 12 to 20 years.)

"Tungo dito nag-utos ng imbestigasyon through the secretaries sa NBI at sa PNP, through the respective secretaries... Nasa unique position po ang ating media lalong-lalo na doon sa nagdala ng istorya na makapagbigay ng impormasyon tungkol sa source ng dokumentong ito," she added.

(An investigation was directed to the NBI and the PNP through the secretaries ... The media, especially those that published the story, is in the unique position to provide information on that source of document.)

Cruz-Angeles said media entities which carried the report could help law enforcers to determine who could be held liable over this offense.

"Hindi kami nananakot ha ng media, as a matter of fact ang sinasabi natin may pagkakataon ang media na matulungan magbigay ng impormasyon sa ating law enforcement agencies, ang nagiging liability is kung knowingly ginamit 'yung dokumento o kasangkot doon sa pagissue ng dokumento na 'yun na nalalaman na hindi po ito tunay o totoo," Cruz-Angeles said.

(We are not threatening the media. As a matter of fact, what we are saying is that the media could give information to law enforcement agencies, the liability lies on whether they knowingly used the document and if they are involved in issuing the document despite knowing that it was fake.)

The Palace official said this incident could even cause instability within the government.

"Tandaan po natin na signature ng ating Pangulo ang pinaghihinalaan nating na-forge so medyo mabigat po 'yung implications niyan. Hindi rin natin alam kung ano ang maaaring paggamitan ng ganoong klase ng dokumento. It can cause not just confusion but further crimes kaya with this in mind, nag-order siya ng investigation," Cruz-Angeles said.

(Let us remember that it was the President's signature that was supposedly forged therefore it has big implications. We don't know yet where this document will be used, it can cause not just confusion but further crimes so he ordered an investigation.)

When asked if a third party would be tapped to look into the matter, Cruz-Angeles guaranteed that the police and the agents from the National Bureau of Investigation were well-equipped in probing the issue.

"Opo, mayroon tayong tinatawag na questioned documents division sa NBI at may capability din po ang ating PNP, I think its through their forensics so mayroon po silang kakayahan," Cruz-Angeles said.

(We have a questioned documents division in the NBI and the PNP has the capability. So they are equipped to investigate this.)

"So bago po natin madiscuss o mapagisipan na magiisip tayo ng third party eh titingnan po natin 'yung kakayahan at resulta ng imbestigasyon ng ating NBI at saka CIDG," she added.

(So before we discuss tapping a third party, we have to check first the result of the investigation of the NBI and the CIDG.) —NB, GMA News