BUTUAN CITY – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested another suspected fake Filipino in Mindanao as part of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s campaign to ensure the integrity of Philippine documents.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado reported the arrest of Jianting Chen, 47, who used the alias Kenneth Tan. Chen was apprehended on October 9 by agents from the BI Regional Intelligence Operations Unit 11 and 13 in Barangay Bading, Butuan City. The operation was conducted in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Army, the Butuan City Police Station, and other government intelligence units.

During the operation, agents found Chen with his wife in a restaurant in the area. When asked for identification, Chen presented a passport and retiree’s visa card bearing his Chinese name. Further inspection revealed that he also possessed an LTO driver’s license and a PSA birth certificate under his Filipino identity, which he admitted to having obtained for business registration and banking purposes—actions that violate Philippine immigration laws.

His wife was not found to have committed any violations.

Viado expressed concern over the rising number of foreign nationals posing as Filipinos and securing authentic Philippine documents.

“Foreign nationals who use Philippine identities pose a risk in national security,” Viado said. “These individuals are infiltrating our economy and stealing work from real Filipinos. Worse is that they may be involved in more sinister acts during their stay here.”

Chen is currently detained in Davao and will face deportation proceedings for misrepresenting himself as a Filipino.