Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles on Tuesday said the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police are jointly investigating a supposed document indicating that lawyer Abraham Espejo Jr. had been appointed Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
In a Palace briefing, Angeles said the document bearing the Great Seal of the Philippines and the President’s signature—which has been circulating on social media—was forged.
“Ayon sa revised penal code, Article 161, ang pag-forge ng Great Seal of the Government, signature of the President or the stamp of the President ay pinaparusahan ng reclusion temporal. Ang reclusion temporal po ay 12 to 20 years,” Angeles said.
Angeles had earlier said Marcos has yet to appoint a BI commissioner. She reiterated that the Presidential Management Staff, which conducts complete staff work on such appointments, as well as the Office of the Executive Secretary and the Office of the President, did not issue a document for the said position.
“Wini-welcome natin ang kahit anong impormasyon tungo sa pag-prosecute sa kaso na ito kung susuportahan ito ng ebidensya through the investigation,” she added.