PCG delists Joseph Sy from Coast Guard auxiliary

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard yesterday said mining magnate Joseph Sy was delisted from the PCG Auxiliary in August 2025 over allegations of fake citizenship.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said Coast Guard commandant Admiral Rommel Supangan ordered a comprehensive review of its auxiliary roster to ensure that all members meet the standards of credibility and qualification.

“Admiral Supangan is committed to implementing stricter vetting and qualification procedures for both existing and prospective PCG auxiliary members to safeguard the integrity of the organization and maintain public trust,” Cayabyab said.

Sy skipped Thursday’s Senate hearing on his Filipino citizenship, with his lawyer citing an emergency medical situation for his absence.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros criticized Sy for skipping the hearing, noting that the businessman had just recently attended a party celebrating his release on bail.

“If he can party, then he could also attend the Senate hearing,” Hontiveros told GMA News.

Hontiveros said Sy’s acquired Filipino identity allowed him to bypass foreign ownership limits and amass wealth as president of a major Philippine mining company.

In October, the Supreme Court ordered Sy’s release from the Bureau of Immigration custody after posting a cash bond of P900,000, as BI Deputy Commissioner Joel Alejandro Nacnac said a cross-check of Sy’s records showed a match with the fingerprints of a Chinese named Chen Zhong Zhen.

Philippine Statistics Authority legal service director Eliezer Ambatali said a pending Senate bill updating the outdated 1930 Civil Registry law would address the gaps in the registration system such as the loopholes in late birth registration.

Ambatali told the Senate that the Office of the Solicitor General has sought the cancellation of Sy’s birth certificate amid accusations that he falsified his Filipino citizenship.