On Tuesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros alarmed national security at possible risk, after Joseph Sy also known as Chen Zhong Hen managed to gain entry into the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PGCA) presenting fraudulent Philippine identity documents.
Upon Sy’s arrival last August 21, 2025 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) then arrested and detained him after his fingerprint matched a Chinese national.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Capt. Naomi Cayabyab stated that last July 11, 2018, Sy was appointed to the Coast Guard Auxiliary after the completion of the standard application requirements for membership.
“Pwede po mag submit ng police clearance, NBI clearance, 'yung mga barangay certificates just to check po 'yung eligibility ng ating applicant. After that mag-undergo po sila ng series of orientation just to orient them kung ano 'yung mga dapat gawin, kung ano 'yung mandato ng Philippine Coast Guard na kung saan pwede po siyang tumulong," Hontiveros said.
Cayabyab stressed that the involvement of Sy is only limited to auxiliary service, a civilian volunteer organization that helps in the non-combat functions of PCG, additionally they have already removed Sy where he is no longer allowed to be presented as a member.
BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval stated that the documents started from Sy’s late registration of his birth certificate where she stressed that due to this he was able to acquire Philippine documents including passports which he used to travel.
"'Yung actual Philippine Passport niya was issued in 2021, noon pa po matagal na siya sa Pilipinas. Actually, he has been here even in 1992 kasI 'yung kaniyang visa was based on that eh," she added.
Hontiveros noted as well that Sy has been a major player in the mining sector with previous partnerships with a Chinese company under the administration of Duterte.
"Chair siya ng isang malaking mining company na nagkaroon ng partnership sa isang Chinese company nung panahon ni Duterte at kasama sa napagusapan nila yung mining operations sa Palawan. Alam naman natin na iyang Palawan ay strategic location sa ating mga efforts para ipagtanggol ang West Philippines Sea," Hontiveros said.
Sy is additionally expected to face local charges and is now facing deportation case as well.
