Davao City, Philippines – The Davao City Government has strongly refuted false reports circulated by several media outlets regarding the alleged involvement of its Civil Registrar’s Office (CRO) in the illegal registration of Chinese nationals in the Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.
In an official statement, the local government called out media organizations, including Manila Bulletin, Politiko, DZMM Teleradyo, News5, Bombo Radyo Philippines, DWRB 103.9 News FM, and K5 National/International News, for irresponsibly citing the Davao City Civil Registrar’s Office in their coverage of the incident. The government clarified that the Davao City CRO has no jurisdiction over birth registrations processed in other cities or municipalities outside its territorial authority, including Davao del Sur.
Furthermore, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 11 – Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office has confirmed that charges have already been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao against employees of the Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, in relation to the case.
The Davao City Government assured the public that no employees from its Civil Registrar’s Office are involved in the alleged scheme. The administration also emphasized its commitment to upholding transparency and integrity in all its services.
The city government urged media organizations to uphold responsible journalism by verifying facts before publication to prevent the spread of misinformation. “The media should not be instruments of misinformation and should avoid misleading the public,” the statement read.
The Davao City Civil Registrar’s Office reiterated its dedication to providing accurate and credible services to the public and warned against any attempts to tarnish its reputation through baseless accusations.