In a development that has sparked intense debate over national security and citizenship laws in the Philippines, businessman Joseph Sy—also known as Chen Zhong Zhen—was detained by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on August 21, 2025, at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. The arrest, carried out after Sy arrived from Hong Kong aboard a Cathay Pacific flight, has since become a flashpoint for concerns about potential loopholes in the country’s citizenship verification processes and the implications for national sovereignty.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, a prominent voice in the Senate, raised the alarm on August 25, 2025, likening Sy’s case to that of Alice Guo, the suspended mayor of Bamban, Tarlac. Guo’s own citizenship has been under scrutiny due to alleged ties to offshore gaming operations and questionable identity documents. According to INQUIRER.net, Hontiveros stated, “He is like Alice Guo Part 2: he posed as a Filipino, he has a fake passport, and fake IDs. It seems that the loopholes in processing our nationality remains. While joining the PCGA is voluntary and non-government, it’s still sad to imagine that Sy managed to access people and events where our national security can be discussed.”
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that Sy, who chairs the mining company Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (FNI), had been appointed to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Auxiliary Executive Squadron in 2018. A document provided by Hontiveros’ office confirmed that Sy received the honorary rank of Auxiliary Commodore under then Admiral Elson Hermogino, pursuant to a memorandum issued in 2014. As reported by GMA News, Hontiveros emphasized, “It is not just the local government that is infiltrated. Even the Coast Guard—the government agency mandated to secure our seas. When these people find cracks in our institutions and processes, our sovereignty is also breached.”
The BI confirmed Sy’s real identity as Chen Zhong Zhen, a 60-year-old Chinese national, and disclosed that his arrest was prompted by intelligence reports about his allegedly fraudulently acquired Philippine identity documents. The BI had issued a mission order and initiated an investigation, leading to Sy’s apprehension at NAIA Terminal 3. According to GMA Integrated News, Sy was detained for “allegedly misrepresenting his citizenship.”
The case has drawn attention to Sy’s business dealings, particularly a partnership established in 2016 between his company and the Chinese state-owned enterprise Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co., Ltd. The agreement, inked during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit to China, involved mining operations in Palawan—a region that remains at the heart of the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China. Hontiveros questioned the motives behind Sy’s activities, asking, “What is the real agenda of Joseph Sy? Is he simply conducting business in Palawan, or is there more to his operations than meets the eye?”
Sy’s honorary role in the PCG Auxiliary has also come under scrutiny, as it potentially provided him access to sensitive discussions and events related to maritime security. While the PCG Auxiliary is a voluntary and non-governmental unit, the symbolism and potential for access have not gone unnoticed. Hontiveros asserted, “Based on our source, Sy joined PCG in 2018 and received an honorary rank under the previous administration. He gained access not just to the local government, but he also inched closer to the agency itself—the agency tasked to protect the security of our maritime territories. When something gets past through our institutions and documents, our sovereignty is also accessed.”
On the other side of the debate, the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) has called for Sy’s immediate release, arguing that his detention is a violation of due process and sets a troubling precedent for the business community. In a statement cited by GMA News, the PNIA said, “PNIA stands in solidarity with Mr. Sy and with all industry stakeholders who deserve the protection of their constitutional rights. We call on the authorities to act swiftly, observe due process, and immediately resolve this matter by releasing Mr. Sy without delay.”
The PNIA further asserted that Sy’s Filipino citizenship had already been affirmed by the BI in two separate rulings, describing his continued detention as “deeply troubling and legally inconsistent.” The association argued, “It is therefore deeply troubling and legally inconsistent that the BI which twice recognized his citizenship is now the very source of his illegal arrest and unlawful detention. His continued detention on mere suspicion of being an alien, without lawful basis and outside the BI’s jurisdiction, is a grave injustice and a violation of the fundamental principles of due process.”
For many observers, the case has become a litmus test for the country’s ability to safeguard its institutions and processes against foreign influence and fraud. Hontiveros, reflecting on the timing of the incident during National Heroes Day, remarked, “This National Heroes’ Day, let us remember that our sovereignty is not only measured by our territory, but our institutions and processes, as well as documents proving that we are Filipino citizens. Our flag is also at stake.”
The PCG, for its part, has yet to issue an official statement regarding Sy’s role in the Auxiliary unit. According to GMA Integrated News, when asked whether Sy was part of the agency, the PCG said it would release a statement on the matter, but as of this writing, no further comment has been made public.
As the Senate weighs a potential probe into Sy’s affiliations, background, and the circumstances under which he obtained his Philippine documents, questions abound regarding the depth of his network and the potential enablers who may have facilitated his rise. Hontiveros has called for immediate action, stating, “If this businessman is indeed a Chinese national masquerading as Filipino, the Senate must immediately probe his affiliations, background, and the circumstances under which he obtained his Philippine documents. We should look into who enabled him and how deep his network goes.”
The story of Joseph Sy, or Chen Zhong Zhen, cuts to the heart of ongoing anxieties about national identity, institutional integrity, and the delicate balance between fostering business partnerships and protecting national interests. As authorities continue to investigate, the outcome of this high-profile case could set the tone for how the Philippines addresses similar challenges in the future, both at home and on the international stage.
