Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on August 6 expressed grave concerns on the reliability of Philippine identification documents amid reports of widespread counterfeiting.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of scam cases in the country, he announced his intention to file a resolution linking these incidents to other fraudulent activities, such as SIM card registration scams.
He called on the PNP, NBI, PSA, and DFA to intensify their efforts in prosecuting violators.
The Senator committed to supporting these agencies with the necessary resources to combat scams and the unauthorized use of government documents.
“I want to help you to find solutions. We have to equip you but you need to tell us kung ano ang kailangan,” he said.
He emphasized the urgent need for a specialized unit to tackle the growing problem of scams in the country.
Cayetano cited the increasing “worldwide trend” of scamming, highlighting two primary motivation- personal gain or to defraud others.
He stressed the importance of convicting those involved in forgery, referencing the 2016 case where 177 Indonesians obtained fake Philippine passports.
The Senator warned that these incidents undermine the credibility of government-issued documents.
He said that the international community “will not trust the Philippine passport” if such issues persist.
He advocated for the creation of a special unit similar to Singapore’s Anti-Scam Centre and Hong Kong’s Anti-Deception Coordination Centre, both of which involve collaboration between police, banks, and telecommunications companies to effectively combat scams in the country.
“We have to get ahead of the scammers. We have to think the way they think and stay one step ahead of them,” he added.
