The Supreme Court (S.C.) has ordered the release of Chinese businessman Joseph Sy from detention upon the posting of a ₱900,000 bond, while legal proceedings concerning allegations of falsified Philippine citizenship remain ongoing.
The S.C. First Division directed immigration officials to report their compliance with the order within 24 hours of Mr. Sy’s release. The 60-year-old businessman was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Aug. 21, 2025, over accusations of falsely claiming Filipino citizenship.
Mr. Sy joined the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Squadron in 2018 and held the rank of rear admiral. However, he was removed from the organization in 2025 following questions about his citizenship.
Senator Risa Hontiveros previously alleged that Mr. Sy was actually Shi Zhenzhong, a native of Donghua village in Jinjiang, China, who reportedly migrated to the Philippines at 17-years-old. She likened the case to that of former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, whose citizenship also came under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (B.I.) clarified that the Supreme Court’s directive concerns Mr. Sy’s continued detention and does not resolve the questions surrounding his citizenship and identity.
B.I. Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the agency is coordinating with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General to ensure the proper implementation of the court’s order.
Mr. Viado emphasized that the investigation into Mr. Sy’s immigration status, identity, and citizenship documents remains subject to judicial proceedings. The release order, therefore, does not constitute a final ruling on the allegations against him.
Earlier, the Philippine Nickel Industry Association and the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines criticized Mr. Sy’s arrest and called for his immediate release.
