ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested three suspected fake Filipinos in separate operations in Pampanga as part of the government’s crackdown on illegal aliens using fraudulently acquired Philippine documents.

BI Commissioner Joel Viado identified one of the suspects as Chinese national Lin Yi, 35, who was apprehended on July 31 at a business establishment along Pandan Road in Angeles City. His arrest followed an anonymous complaint that he was using a Philippine identity in business dealings.

Authorities recovered a late-registered Philippine birth certificate, a Philippine identification card, and an official receipt for a driver’s license from Lin, who was also found to hold a working visa valid until 2027 under his Chinese identity.

Two other suspects — Yan Yize, 30, arrested in a residential unit along Sarmiento Street in Malabanias, Angeles City, and Wang Jiangyi, 55, arrested in Barangay Panipuan, Mexico, Pampanga — were reportedly using Philippine identities supported by late-registered birth certificates, BIR TIN IDs, and business registrations with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

They are allegedly linked to a construction and development corporation suspected of being used for land acquisition activities.

Viado condemned the continued use of illegally obtained Philippine documents by foreign nationals.

“The illegal use of Philippine documents is a national security issue that must be addressed at its roots,” he said, adding that the BI is submitting reports to the Department of Justice to investigate the sources of such documents.

All three suspects are in BI custody pending deportation proceedings.