How three young Filipinos went from being illegal to citizens

Three Philippine siblings were given Malaysian birth certificates and later, identity cards, after they were adopted by a local villager in the 1980s and converted to Islam.

Mohd Shafee Mohd Yusof told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into illegals in Sabah how his stepfather and mother smuggled him and his two siblings into Semporna via Sitangkai from Zamboanga.

My siblings and I were born in Basilan, Philippines. I was very young when my natural father divorced my mother,” he told the five-man RCI panel in Kota Kinabalu.

“When I was six, my family went to Semporna with the help of an illegal boat operator. Shortly after arriving in Sabah, my father got a job as a mechanic,” he said.

Mohd Shafee revealed that his birth name was Johnny Amules. When he was nine, he and his younger siblings were “adopted” by his stepfather’s friend, Mohd Yusof.

“Mohd Yusof told me that Islam was good and that was why I should convert. We went to the Semporna National Registration Department where the late birth certificates were issued. (late birth certificate refers to registration made more than 42 days after the date of birth of a child in Malaysia).”

In 1995, Mohd Shafee said he received a “Bunga Raya” identity card before changing it to a MyKad in the 2000s. His siblings obtained similar identification documents.

Mohd Shafee disclosed that his mother and stepfather remained illegal immigrants as they were not issued any identification documents.

Mohd Shafee said the only correct information on his late birth certificate was his date of birth. All other information was false.

He admitted that it was easier to obtain identification documents in the past especially if a local was assisting and leading the way.

Mohd Shafee said he married a Philippines woman several years ago and has three children of his own, all of whom have Malaysian citizenship.

“Yes, my wife converted to Islam shortly after marrying me and our children are Muslims,” he said, adding all of his family's documents were issued by the Semporna NRD.