PASIG, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the arrest of a suspected fake Filipino in Pasig on April 24.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that a Chinese national identified as Lu Tianqu, 32, was arrested during a joint operation of the BI, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in a hotel in Ortigas, Pasig.
The arrest was initiated after the BI received intelligence from the AFP indicating that Lu had been misrepresenting himself as a Filipino citizen in numerous transactions throughout the country.
Lu was reportedly using a Philippine passport, a Philippine driver’s license, and was found to have registered as a Filipino national. The BI also received reports from government intelligence authorities that he owns a financial holdings company with 47 subsidiaries and 97 real estate properties, some of which are located near critical national infrastructure.
Government intelligence sources have flagged his presence and activities as a potential threat to national security.
Viado stressed that the operation is part of the government’s broader security and immigration enforcement efforts under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has instructed all agencies to remain vigilant in safeguarding Philippine sovereignty.
“Ang sinumang nagpapanggap bilang Pilipino para makalusot sa ating mga batas ay may pananagutan,” said Viado. “Sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo, pinalalakas natin ang pagbabantay sa mga banyagang nagtatangkang abusuhin ang ating mga sistema. Hindi tayo papayag na gamitin ang pagiging Pilipino bilang panangga sa iligal na gawain.”
Lu is set to be charged for undesirability for falsely presenting himself as a Filipino, despite continuously holding a Chinese passport and only possessing a permanent resident visa valid until 2029 based on his marriage to a Filipina.
He will remain in the BI’s facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig pending deportation proceedings. #
