Recently, Jinjiang-born nickel mining tycoon Shi Zhenchong, who operates in the Philippines, has been accused of allegedly forging Philippine citizenship. The Philippine Immigration Bureau is planning to initiate deportation proceedings, drawing significant attention from the Filipino-Chinese community.

Shi Zhenchong's Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. (FNI) is the Philippines' second-largest mining group and a publicly listed company, operating what is globally the single largest nickel mine by output volume in the Philippines.

**Detained Upon Arrival from Hong Kong, Philippine Immigration Bureau Plans Deportation**

Following former Chinese-Filipino mayor Alice Guo's charges for allegedly forging Philippine citizenship documents, Jinjiang-born nickel mining tycoon and FNI Chairman Shi Zhenchong (Joseph Sy) has also been detained on suspicion of forging Philippine citizenship. The Philippine Immigration Bureau is preparing deportation proceedings against him.

According to reports from Philippine media outlets, on August 21, Shi Zhenchong was arrested immediately upon arriving at Manila International Airport from Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific Airways.

Despite holding a Philippine passport issued in 2021 and other Philippine identification documents, the Philippine Immigration Bureau claims that fingerprint identification revealed his prints match those of a 60-year-old Chinese citizen named Chen Zhong Zhen, who holds a long-term visa and alien registration. Based on this information, immigration authorities determined he had forged Philippine citizenship.

According to recent Philippine Chinese media reports, FNI Chairman Shi Zhenchong is currently detained at the Bagong Diwa immigration detention facility in Taguig City.

Philippine Immigration Bureau spokesperson Dana Sandoval provided further clarification, stating: "We have identified key figures and are investigating influential individuals, as our current concerns extend beyond mere details to national security matters." She added: "If anyone is involved in protecting or assisting him, this will be exposed in subsequent investigations."

FNI has issued a statement asserting that Shi Zhenchong holds a valid Philippine passport, claiming the immigration bureau's charges lack legal basis and demanding his release. The statement reads: "This accusation lacks legal foundation. Mr. Shi is a Philippine citizen, with his status confirmed by multiple rulings from government agencies and organizations. When entering the Philippines, Mr. Shi presented a valid Philippine passport—legally the official proof of Philippine nationality. Mr. Shi has never been involved in any criminal activities."

FNI, established on May 3, 1994, operates in nickel mining, logistics, cement, steel, and port operations, making it the Philippines' second-largest mining group. The company owns a 4,300-hectare nickel mine with reserves of 500 million tons—the world's largest single-output nickel mine—with annual mining capacity exceeding 6 million tons.

Philippine Congressman Argel Joseph Cabatbat and other mining industry groups, including the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA), have issued statements calling for the immediate release of Shi Zhenchong. PNIA President Dante Bravo accused the immigration bureau of "illegal arrest" and implementing "unlawful detention."

In fact, Shi Zhenchong had already attracted attention from Philippine politicians. In October 2024, Congressman Cabatbat indirectly questioned Shi's identity, claiming to have possessed relevant evidence for ten years.

During Shi's detention, Philippine Senator Lisa Hontiveros stated that this suspected Chinese businessman "may pose national security concerns," comparing his case to former Chinese-Filipino mayor Alice Guo. PNIA President Dante Bravo, in an ANC television interview, opposed comparing Shi to Guo, stating: "Comparing him to Alice Guo is very unfair. His case has completed legal procedures—the immigration bureau has twice confirmed his Philippine citizenship."

Bravo also stated that Shi's citizenship was even reported to and confirmed by the Presidential Office: "Therefore, we cannot understand why this matter keeps being rehashed. It's both absurd and unjust."

Senator Hontiveros noted in her statement that Shi had joined the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), a volunteer organization cooperating with the Coast Guard. Although it's a non-governmental volunteer organization, she expressed concern that he "might obtain national security-related intelligence through contact with personnel and activities."

Regarding the senator's national security claims, Bravo pointed out that Shi joined as a Philippine citizen without any irregularities.

Immigration Bureau Director Joel Anthony Victor emphasized: "Foreign citizens who have not undergone naturalization procedures have no right to obtain Philippine citizenship documents."

As FNI is a publicly listed company with a market value of approximately 8 billion pesos, the Philippine Stock Exchange has stated it is monitoring Shi's arrest and considering possible actions within its jurisdiction.

**Nickel Tycoon's Hometown Connections: Private Jet Once Stayed at Jinjiang Airport for Three Days**

Whether nickel mining tycoon Shi Zhenchong will become another "Alice Guo" due to identity issues, and whether Philippine domestic political calculations are involved, remains to be observed.

The core of this case is whether Shi Zhenchong's Philippine nationality status is legal. A 2015 civil judgment from Jiaxing Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang Province recorded Shi's identity in a contract dispute case. The judgment documented: Shi Zhenchong (Joseph C. Sy), male, Republic of the Philippines nationality, passport number: EC1316*** (last three digits omitted), residing at 5th Floor, Cachuigan-Gonzales Building, 101 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, Republic of the Philippines.

In the judgment, Shi claimed to be the actual controller of "Xinsheng Mining" and to possess abundant nickel and chromium ore resources in the Philippines.

Multiple news reports show that Shi's FNI Group maintains business cooperation with numerous domestic Chinese enterprises.

For example, in 2023, Baowu Resources visited the Philippines to meet with major local nickel miners. FNI Chairman Shi revealed that FNI Group has signed long-term contracts with Baowu Resources for nine consecutive years, making Baowu Resources one of FNI Group's most important strategic partners in China's nickel market. Baowu Resources is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Baowu Steel Group, engaged in mineral resource investment, trading, and logistics services.

Philippine nickel mining tycoon and FNI Chairman Shi Zhenchong traces his ancestry to Donghua Village, Shenhu Town, Jinjiang City, Fujian Province. At age 17, he traveled to the Philippines, initially starting as an apprentice in a lumber mill, later engaging in timber trading, and subsequently entering nickel mining and smelting industries, establishing FNI Group and other enterprises.

On the afternoon of October 2, 2015, a white and blue small private aircraft took off from Jinjiang Airport, returning to Manila, Philippines. This was the private aircraft of overseas Chinese businessman and Philippines-China Trade Promotion Association President Shi Zhenchong, which had been parked at Jinjiang Airport for three days.

This marked Shi's first homecoming trip via private jet and Jinjiang Airport's first time hosting an overseas private aircraft.

On September 30, seven other Filipino-Chinese businessmen from Jinjiang accompanied Shi on the private jet. The flight from Manila to Jinjiang took only 1 hour and 45 minutes, faster than commercial aircraft, flying stably at 10,000 meters altitude. Shi purchased this American-made Cessna business jet in 2015 for 120 million yuan.

Despite living overseas, Filipino-Chinese maintain patriotic and hometown sentiments, giving back to their communities after achieving success. Nickel tycoon Shi Zhenchong exemplifies this spirit.

In Jinjiang's Shenhu Donghua Village, Shi independently funded the construction of "Wenwei Park" and supported the village's Donghu Park construction, while donating to Shenhu Middle School, Donghua Elementary School, village water system renovation, and road paving projects.

To promote filial piety and respect for elders, Shi and his wife Gu Zhifang established the "Shi Zhenchong and Gu Zhifang Charitable Foundation," which has provided cash gifts to villagers over 60 for nine consecutive years.

Last year, when their son Shi Weijie turned 16, they donated one million yuan to the Shenhu Town Charity and Education Development Promotion Association, specifically for Donghua Village's rural revitalization construction. According to local media reports, by June last year, Shi and Gu had donated over 15 million yuan to various hometown causes.