Mining exec Joseph Sy is under surveillance as a precaution – NICA

MANILA, Philippines — The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency on Monday said it is continuously monitoring mining executive Joseph Sy, whose Filipino citizenship was put in question by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). 

During the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights hearing, NICA Director Ferlu Silvio said this move is a precautionary measure.

“Our agency continues to monitor Joseph Sy, in coordination with partner agencies within the bounds of the law,” Silvio said in a prepared statement during the hearing. “Such monitoring is precautionary in nature.”

Silvo said Sy’s case presents “potential national security considerations.”

“From NICA’s perspective, the issue is not limited to criminal liability, but extends to risk monitoring, institutional safeguards, and protection of strategic national interest,” he noted.  

“While court cases and dismissals are fully respected, continuous intelligence monitoring and institutional remain essential in protecting Philippine sovereignty, public trust, and sovereignty interest,” he continued.

According to the BI, Sy is allegedly another person named Chen Zhong Zhen, who purportedly faked his Filipino citizenship.

Previously, Sen. Risa Hontiveros noted that Sy’s fingerprint matched those of a certain Chen Zhong Zhen who applied for an amnesty under Republic Act 7919 or the  Alien Social Integration Act of 1995.

This had raised suspicion of Sy also being a Chinese citizen. 

BI had detained Sy on a deportation case, and the Court of Appeals (CA) ordered his release, affirming a Taguig court’s order and giving weight to his birth certificate and passport as proof of his Filipino citizenship.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the court made the move even though the bureau had informed them that Sy had two passports, which surprised Hontiveros. 

“China has no dual citizenship. Just the fact that you told the local courts that Mr. Sy has two passports should alarm bells in the minds of the court, with all due respect,”  the senator said.

Viado said the BI has since appealed this case. 

Sy mum when quizzed on birthplace 

Sy attended the panel hearing, and Hontiveros asked him about his birthplace. 

“Because my ongoing case is in CA, I apologize as I invoke my right to remain silent,” Sy said, partly in Filipino.

Before Hontiveros’ questioning, Sy’s counsel Alma Fernandez-Mallonga said her client has invoked his right against self incrimination.

“We are not trivializing this process. We are not interposing any delay, but there is good constitutional basis to raise questions concerning the ability of Mr. Sy if he chooses to invoke his right against self-incrimination,” Sy’s lawyer further said.

Panel chair Hontiveros recognized the resource person’s right against self-incrimination, but she noted that it can be invoked “only on a question-to-question basis, not blanket.”

Mallonga stressed that even Hontiveros’ question regarding the birthplace of Sy is “extricably linked to issues that are connected to the present deportation case, and to the court cases that are pending before the Court of Appeals.”

But Hontiveros said: “My question ‘where were you born’ is a simple matter of fact.”

Sy was the chairperson of listed nickel mining firm Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. 

To date, he remains one of the board of members of the firm, albeit “on leave,” according to the company’s website.

Aside from being a key stakeholder on the country’s nickel mining, Sy even became part of the Philippine Coast Guard auxiliary group before he was removed.

Tulfo: China’s law requires citizens to be spies

Sen. Raffy Tulfo sounded an alarm as he noted that, in his understanding, Chinese citizens are obliged by their law to “spy” in the country where they are staying. 

“China has a law that all Chinese citizens, once they arrive in a country like the Philippines, are obliged to spy in the country they’re in,” Tulfo said.

Since it took effect on June 17, the translation project China Law Translate said Article 7 of China’s National Intelligence Law states that – “All organizations and citizens shall support, assist and cooperate with national intelligence efforts in accordance with law, and shall protect national intelligence work secrets they are aware of.” /apl