BI to probe Pagadian mayor

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday said it will conduct a thorough investigation into the citizenship of Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Sy Co amid questions regarding the veracity of his Filipino citizenship.

“We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the veracity of the allegations,” BI spokesperson Dana Krizia M. Sandoval told reporters on Viber. “We will be looking at our internal records as part of the investigation.”

According to the BI, the review of internal documents is part of its standard process for verifying such claims. The inquiry aims to address public concerns regarding Mr. Co’s eligibility to hold an elective position, which by law requires Filipino citizenship.

The issue arises amid broader public attention on the citizenship of certain local officials with Chinese ancestry, similar to the recent case involving former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

The investigation also comes as Mr. Co continues to face public scrutiny due to past allegations related to an investment scam.

While Mr. Co has said he was among the victims, a Department of Justice special panel previously reported findings indicating he “acted not merely as an investor but also as an agent,” leading to charges of syndicated estafa. Mr. Co has denied the allegations and said the accusations are politically motivated. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking