Disqualified bet faces passport probe

MANILA, Philippines—The US Department of Homeland Security  and Federal Bureau of Investigation have been asked to investigate how disqualified Marinduque congressional candidate Regina Ongsiako Reyes obtained her US passport after Reyes said she did not obtain them by naturalization.

In a letter to the two US agencies, Pepito Vergara, a taxpayer and native of Marinduque, said Reyes should be investigated by the US government following her statement that she did not become a US citizen by naturalization though she holds a US passport.

Vergara said Reyes holds US passport No. 306278853 which she used to enter and exit the Philippines repeatedly.

“Interestingly, Ms Reyes’ date of birth as stated in her US passport is indicated as 03 July 1959, while her date of birth in her Philippine passport is indicated as 03 July 1964,” Vergara said in a statement.

On March 27, the Commission on Elections’ first division canceled Reyes’ certificate of candidacy  for being an American citizen.