Mining exec Joseph Sy’s detention ‘illegal,’ CA says

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld a lower court ruling declaring the detention of former Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. Chairman Joseph C. Sy illegal.

In a 15-page decision on Feb. 20, the CA’s special eighth division denied the appeal of Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials, acting through the Office of the Solicitor General.

The court ruled that Mr. Sy’s registered birth certificate, which lists him as a Filipino born in Quezon City to Filipino parents, takes precedence over the Alien Certificate of Registration presented by the BI. The CA noted that the BI cannot challenge a presumed-valid birth certificate without a judicial order.

“Owing to his birth certificate, Sy should be considered a Filipino and not a proper subject of the BI’s jurisdiction,” the CA ruled.

“At best, the deportation proceeding against Sy was prematurely instituted, as he has an existing birth certificate issued by the Office of the Civil Registrar that has not yet been canceled,” it added.

Mr. Sy was intercepted by BI personnel at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Aug. 21, 2025, after returning from Hong Kong, and detained at the BI Warden Facility despite holding a valid Philippine passport until 2031. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking