Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Arthur Fuentes

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A mining group has called for the immediate release of a businessman arrested by the Bureau of Immigration for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Filipino citizen.</p><p>A senator, meanwhile, said the businessman, who is allegedly a Chinese national, may be a national security concern. Senator Risa Hontiveros likened Sy to Alice Guo, the Chinese national on trial for violating Philippine laws for running for public office. </p><p>In a statement, the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) maintained that Joseph Sy, who is chairman of the mining company Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (FNI), is a Filipino citizen whose citizenship has been affirmed. </p><p>PNIA President Dante Bravo said Sy was “unlawfully arrested” and put under “illegal detention.”</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3aZ5OGjTGOs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>In an interview with ANC, Bravo said the BI had no authority to arrest and detain Sy as the agency&#x27;s &quot;jurisdiction involves only foreigners.&quot; </p><p>&quot;But Mr. See is a Filipino citizen. At the very least, there is a presumption of regularity,&quot; Bravo said. He also rejected comparisons to Guo.</p><p>&quot;It is very unfair to compare him to Alice Guo. His case has already undergone a process--twice declared by the Bureau of Immigration that he is a Filipino citizen,&quot; Bravo said.</p><p>He claimed that Sy&#x27;s citizenship was even elevated to the Office of the President, which confirmed it. </p><p>&quot;So we find it odd and very unfair and shocking to us why this issue against Mr. Sy keeps on resurfacing and resurfacing.&quot;</p><p>In a statement, Hontiveros also said Sy was able to join the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, a volunteer group with the PCG.  </p><p>&quot;Bagama’t voluntary at non-government ang PCGA, nakakalungkot isipin na nagka-access si Sy sa mga tao at events kung saan maaaring napag-uusapan ang national security,” Hontiveros said. </p><p>The senator said this was a national security concern. </p><p>Bravo, meanwhile, said there was nothing irregular about Sy joining the PCG volunteer group as he is a Filipino citizen. </p><p>Last Aug. 21, the BI arrested a businessman named Chen Zhong Zhen, who the agency said was a Chinese national who had Philippine documents that were illegally acquired.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/30/wanted-a-law-that-prevents-future-alice-guos-1054">Wanted: A law that prevents future Alice Guos</a></div><p>The BI said its Alien Registration Division confirmed that Chen’s fingerprints matched that of a Chinese citizen, who previously held a long-term visa and an Alien Certificate Registration Identity Card.</p><p>“Without naturalization, a foreign national is not eligible to get Philippine citizenship documents,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.</p><p>Last month, another Chinese national, arriving from Kuala Lumpur, was also arrested at the NAIA for allegedly misrepresenting herself as a Filipino citizen.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/14/another-alice-guo-chinese-woman-posing-as-filipino-nabbed-at-naia-1515">Another &#x27;Alice Guo&#x27;? BI nabs Chinese woman allegedly posing as Filipino</a></div><p>Before this, multiple Chinese nationals were also arrested across the country for illegally acquiring Philippine documents.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/6/28/chinese-man-pretending-to-be-filipino-arrested-in-camarines-norte-1308">Chinese man pretending to be Filipino arrested in Camarines Norte</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9MDzUIUTGnw?si=YlqmuG7jm4jdCltq" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>A mining group has called for the release of a businessman arrested by the Bureau of Immigration for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Filipino citizen.</p>

A mining group has called for the release of a businessman arrested by the Bureau of Immigration for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Filipino citizen.

Mining group calls for release of businessman held by Immigration as senator likens him to Alice Guo

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Mining group calls for release of businessman held by Immigration as senator likens him to Alice Guo

Marilyn Cahatol,

Arthur Fuentes,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 25, 2025 07:39 PM PHT

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Updated August 26, 2025 02:48 PM PHT

Read More:

Fake Filipino

CHinese national

NAIA

PNIA

Mining

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