Taguig court releases mining exec amid identity fraud case
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed on Saturday that a Taguig City court ordered the release of businessman Joseph Sy, also known as Chen Zhong Zhen, saying that it is appealing the decision to the Court of Appeals (CA).
The BI recently detained Sy, chair of the mining company Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc., for reportedly holding fraudulently acquired Philippine identity documents.
Global Ferronickel is listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and is engaged in ferronickel ore mining and processing, with additional interests in logistics, port operations, cement and steel production.
The company reported first-half 2025 revenues of P3.288 billion and a net income attributable to shareholders of the parent company of P622.1 million. The PSE did not specify the parent company.
Meanwhile, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement on Saturday that they received the order signed by presiding Judge Esperanza Cortes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 221 of Taguig City on Friday to release Sy.
“The said order grants the petition for habeas corpus filed by Chen’s camp and orders his release from the BI’s custody, citing lack of jurisdiction,” Viado said.
‘Appeal to CA’
According to Viado, while the BI respects the court’s decision, it maintains that there is strong evidence against Sy, “supported by BI biometric records.”
With this, he said that the bureau, with guidance from the Department of Justice, submitted its appeal on the Taguig court’s order to the CA and would be awaiting its resolution.
“We trust that the courts will continue to review and resolve this case with utmost diligence and integrity, to ensure the protection of national security and the rule of law,” the BI commissioner said.
Earlier, Sen. Risa Hontiveros raised a national security alarm over Sy, who allegedly misrepresented himself as a Filipino citizen, after she revealed that the businessman was appointed to the Philippine Coast Guard service in 2018.
