NBI files perjury raps vs Pacifico Marcelo

The National Bureau of Investigation has filed perjury charges before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office against businessman Pacifico Marcelo III for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Filipino citizen through the presentation of alleged falsified documents.

"Based on initial reports, he is not a Filipino but an American when he presented himself in business dealings. He committed perjury and falsification of public documents. Marcelo and some of his relatives are American citizens," said NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco.

According to investigation conducted by the NBI’s Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division, Marcelo, under oath, had allegedly represented himself as a Filipino citizen in his business dealings with the Philippine Communication Clearing House (PCCI) and the APC Wireless Interface Network Inc. The NBI said Marcelo owns majority stocks in these firms.

Last Nov. 26, the Bureau of Immigration was informed that Marcelo is an American citizen. The BI then requested the NBI to conduct an investigation.

Advanced information provided by the US Embassy revealed that Marcelo and family were United States citizens, sources said.

According to the NBI, in addition to the PCCI and the APC, Marcelo had also established seven other corporations where he allegedly misrepresented himself as a Filipino citizen under oath. The NBI also learned from the Department of Foreign Affairs that no Philippine passport was issued to Marcelo.

The NBI said that Marcelo, through his lawyers asserted that he cannot be charged for falsification and perjury as he is a Filipino citizen by repatriation after he allegedly renounced his American citizenship.

Marcelo said he has already submitted letters signifying his renunciation of his US citizenship to the Bureau of Immigration and the Local Civil Registrar of Naga City, where he was born.

But according to the NBI, mere letters signifying an intent to renounce US citizenship is not sufficient to reacquire Filipino citizenship. – Mike Frialde