MANILA, June 3 -- The Department of Justice has clarified the use of the Bureau of Immigration-issued identification certificate in reports of birth applications.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), through Legal Opinion No. 11, series of 2026, said the Bureau of Immigration (BI)-issued Identification Certificate relating to the Recognition of Philippine citizenship is a sufficient basis for giving due course to a Report of Birth (ROB) application.

Issued on April 16, 2026 and signed by Justice Secretary Frederick Vida, the opinion was rendered in response to a legal inquiry from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Office of Undersecretary Jesus Domingo for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs.

The inquiry sought clari...