Senator Hontiveros flags Joseph Sy over security risk

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday raised a national security alarm following the apprehension of businessman Joseph Sy, a “Filipino-Chinese” executive allegedly posing as a Filipino citizen, revealing that he had managed to join the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Auxiliary.

Sy, who chairs the mining company Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc., was recently detained by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for reportedly holding fraudulently acquired Philippine identity documents.

“Parang si Alice Guo Part 2 ito: nagpapanggap na Pilipino, may pekeng passport, at mga pekeng ID. Mukhang andyan pa rin ang mga butas sa pagproseso ng ating nasyonalidad. Bagama’t voluntary at non-government ang PCGA, nakakalungkot isipin na nagka-access si Sy sa mga tao at events kung saan maaaring napag-uusapan ang national security,” Hontiveros said.

(This appears to be a repeat of the Alice Guo case: pretending to be Filipino with a fake passport and IDs. It seems there are still loopholes in the processing of citizenship. Although the PCGA is voluntary and non-governmental, it’s alarming that Sy was able to access people and events where national security matters could have been discussed.)

“Ayon sa aming source, nakapasok sya sa PCGA noong 2018 at nakatanggap pa ng honorary rank sa ilalim ng dating administrasyon. Hindi lang local na pamahalaan ang pinasok, nakalapit na din sa mismong coast guard— ang mismong naatasang pangalagaan ang seguridad ng ating dagat. Kapag nalulusutan ang ating mga institusyon at papeles, nalulusutan rin ang ating soberanya,” the senator added.

(According to our source, he joined the PCGA in 2018 and even received an honorary rank under the previous administration. He didn’t just infiltrate local government; he also gained proximity to the Coast Guard itself—the very agency tasked with safeguarding our maritime security. When our institutions and documents are bypassed, our sovereignty is put at risk.)

Hontiveros also exposed that during former President Duterte’s state visit to China in 2016, Sy’s company entered into a partnership with Chinese State-owned enterprise Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co., Ltd.

The agreement involved mining operations in Palawan, a sensitive and strategic location in the ongoing territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.

“Ano kaya ang totoong agenda nitong si Josephy Sy? Is he simply conducting business in Palawan, or is there more to his operations than meets the eye?” Hontiveros asked.

(What is Joseph Sy’s real agenda?)

“If this businessman is indeed a Chinese national masquerading as Filipino, the Senate must immediately probe his affiliations, background, and the circumstances under which he obtained his Philippine documents. We should look into who enabled him and how deep his network goes,” the senator said.

As the nation marks National Heroes Day, Hontiveros also called on Filipinos to remain vigilant.

“Ngayong Araw ng mga Bayani, alalahanin natin na hindi lamang sa teritoryo nasusukat ang ating soberanya. Bantayan din natin ang ating mga institusyon, proseso, at maging mga dokumento na nagpapatunay ng ating pagka-Pilipino. Nakataya rin dito ang ating watawat,” she concluded.

(On this National Heroes Day, let us remember that our sovereignty is not measured by territory alone. We must also safeguard our institutions, processes, and even the documents that prove our Filipino identity. Our flag is also at stake.)