Ombudsman Samuel Martires

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman will launch its own inquiry into the alleged issuance of Philippine passports and other official public documents to Chinese nationals and other foreigners, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said on Tuesday.

“We have to investigate the people involved in this,” Martires told reporters after appearing at the Senate plenary budget deliberations.

Media help sought

Offhand, he said, unscrupulous public officials may be held liable for “causing undue injury to the Filipino people” by illegally facilitating the release of government-issued documents that should only be given to Filipino citizens.

The country’s chief graft buster also sought the assistance of the media in its investigation as he underscored the critical role of journalists in the fight against corruption.

“All I have to do [later] is to validate the information that I get from members of the press,” he said.

National security

On Monday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri asked the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the National Security Council to help unmask those behind the modus, pointing out that it would have national security implications.

“We’ve seen kidnap-for-ransom, extortion, and sex trafficking [activities] being done by foreigners using our legal documents. It’s unheard of in other countries,” Zubiri said.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said Chinese citizens working in Philippine offshore gaming operators were among those who had obtained authentic identification cards through fraudulent means.