Concubinage?! I need to pay P150.00 ($3.49) to clear my name!
By wittynet
@wittynet (4421)
Philippines
March 18, 2012 2:17am CST
I went to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last month to renew my NBI clearance. After data check, payment, and the like, I was advised to claim my new clearance after two weeks. One of the lady staffs who assisted me told me that I have a HIT. I have been renewing my clearance since 2006. There were few times that I tried to renew my clearance at NBI nearest branch, but I was always advised to go to NBI main office for I have a HIT or the machine can't read the bar code. I was always informed that this is not a major issue for there are many applicants who have the same problem. I just need to renew my clearance at NBI main office, and the problem will be solved.
I asked this lady staff why I needed to go back after two weeks. She told me that it's their new process, but she also emphasized that it's not a major issue, that it's just in the system, and it's always like this everytime I renew my license. I further asked if it's because of someone I am sharing my name with. She said it's not.
After two weeks, I went back to NBI to claim my new clearance, but I was shocked when I was advised to first go to Quality for an interview because of this HIT again. I was more shocked when this male staff told me that I needed to go to Regional Trial Court to clear my name because I am sharing my name with someone who is wanted on a charge for concubinage! What is really disgusting is the fact that I need to pay P150.00 ($3.49) to clear my name! I asked this staff to provide me with all the information of this person. He said that what they only have are last name, first name, and address! I got furious when he can't provide the middle name of this person. He said that the information was just forwarded to them by the Trial Court, and they didn't provide the middle name! I said that they purposely removed the middle name so that they'll earn, if not, why do I need to pay? This is a modus operandi! I emphasized that each applicant has complete information in NBI, that they're now using Biometrics, so what's the purpose of the information and this Biometrics? He said he believed I'm not that person, but I need to comply with their new process. I told him it's not a new process for when I was still very young, I already heard of this issue with NBI clearance.
What's so absurd about this is the case was filed last 1998. It was 1994 when I first applied for NBI clearance. The first renewal was 2006. I have been having a problem with my NBI renewal since 2006. It only means that this HIT is this concubinage case. From 2006 to 2011, I have applied for renewal for three to four times, and I was never advised to go to Regional Trial Court to clear my name. Now, they're asking me to go to court and pay to clear my name. This is indeed absurd!
4 people like this
12 responses
@shebacs (178)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
I had a friend who also had that problem. Mistaken identity and such. You really have to go to court and make a case and clarify that you are not the person on the Wanted list.
Yes, its a long process and of course, unfair. But what can you do? You are sharing your name with a Wanted person especially if they don't have a picture of the Wanted person on their files. It is the way it is.
2 people like this
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
I didn't go to court, shebacs. It's been more than two weeks now. What I did is I searched for NBI website, then I looked for their email address and contact number. I sent an email to the director, and I narrated everything. I have been making follow up calls for two weeks now, I think they're already 10 calls! 
1 person likes this
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
Not really. The email address has the word director. 
The persons whom I talked to are all representatives of the director from different departments.
I think my last call already resolved my problem, but not the problem of others. The last representative advised me to go thier office, main office of NBI, before I claim my clearance. He told me that they're already preparing a reply to my message when I called. Hmmmm... I don't think they're really composing one for until now, I never receive any.
I was advised to bring my receipt. He confirmed that there's no need for me to go to court that's why I'm so happy. I'll claim my clearance tomorrow. If they change their mind and ask me to go to court, I tell you, I'll kill them!
The persons whom I talked to are all representatives of the director from different departments.
I think my last call already resolved my problem, but not the problem of others. The last representative advised me to go thier office, main office of NBI, before I claim my clearance. He told me that they're already preparing a reply to my message when I called. Hmmmm... I don't think they're really composing one for until now, I never receive any.
I was advised to bring my receipt. He confirmed that there's no need for me to go to court that's why I'm so happy. I'll claim my clearance tomorrow. If they change their mind and ask me to go to court, I tell you, I'll kill them!1 person likes this
@shebacs (178)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
Oh, you didn't went to court and made it all legal?
I'm not saying you contacting the director and such is a bad idea, but you're gonna have to wait awhile for the director to get back at you. That's how most of the government officials work. It will take long for them to get back at you and remedy the situation. Apparently, too long since you've been making follow up calls for two weeks now.
Did you really speak directly to the director? Can you book an appointment with the director and lay your documents out for him to see?
1 person likes this
@bing28 (3795)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
I think that should be corrected there are so many people who are being affected by this kind of reason why NBI clearances could not be released. This is always the case you have the same names but you have different addresses. Imagine the time consumed in going back and forth.
2 people like this
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
Witty, if you don't want to experience the same hassle, try renewing your NBI clearance before it expires. This is what I am doing now and so far I am no longer getting any "hits". The NBI system seems to place the "hit" on those clearances that are expired.
2 people like this
@aerous (13434)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
I think the NBI is too much in that occasion, my friend. You should file charges against the agency because they are trying to shame you in that situation since it is their jobs to find out the errand...
They know that you are not the person but they still want you to go to the regional trial court to clean your name. They should release your papers clear and not doing any messy things like that.
That system of the NBI must be change but the director who want to change the department was innocently charge for allege kidnapping because those culprit in that department of justice don't want to have a good director because they don't operate their wrong doings if all the changes is implemented...
1 person likes this
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
Yes! I'll never go to court and pay for this because I'm not this person! I'll go to main office of NBI tomorrow because they promise that I can already claim the clearance after more than two weeks. I'll not stop after this. How about those people who are not aware that they can complain and need not to go to court for this? They should update all our records. They should gather all important information about those wanted persons so that the innocent ones will not suffer.
@SinfulRose (3527)
• Davao, Philippines
18 Mar 12
That is indeed absurd.
They should have cleared their system first. What a government office and an NBI at that?!
No wonder I hate going near those places. Aside that there are many people around, it's their system that is very unclear. Tell me, have they placed instructions around like how to register or renew clearances? Because it would really help those newbies to get themselves and get themselves out of a trap by modus operandi.
1 person likes this
@jeanneyvonne (5500)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
They should reply to you since you were the aggravated party. And we should not tolerate chis kind of service. It should have been cleared from the start when you did received a HIT. It's bad enough that they are charging a good amount o9f money for almost every government transaction and yet you have to bear the inconvenience of doing added transactions. I hope that you get your clearance very soon.
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
Yes, SinfulRose! It's indeed absurd! There are so many instructions.
I was able to speak with different staffs from main NBI office. My call was transferred from one department to another. I didn't give up until I was able to speak with the right person who handles issues with this renewal. He said that the time I was talking to him, they're already preparing a reply to my very long email. They should!
@rog0322 (2828)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
28 Mar 12
Hi wit,
Its the NBI people who do these scams get "hit." If I hear the news about some government people getting shot on the street, the first thing that comes to my mind is that maybe that person is part of a big syndicate getting a fair judgement by those whom they have wronged.
Those kind of people should follow the example of Mr.Angelo Reyes who chose to shoot himself before somebody else does.
1 person likes this
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
28 Mar 12
The problem here is there are so many innocent applicants who suffer a lot because of this HIT. I have a friend who accompanied his nephew to court to clear his name. It took the whole day before they get all the necessary documents. He told me that I also need to go to court because there's nothing I can do with this issue but to comply with them. I never did. He discouraged me a lot, and he was surprised when he found out that I was able to get my new clearance after complaining them. I waited for more than a week before they finally gave me an answer to my complain. 
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
28 Mar 12
I am sure they'll not do the same, rog0322. They'll always tell us that this is the process, and we are just complying. In fairness with NBI, they're not the only ones to be blamed. Blame also those courts who are forwarding them inaccurate information.
In fairness with NBI, they're not the only ones to be blamed. Blame also those courts who are forwarding them inaccurate information. 
@angelgee14 (462)
• Philippines
19 Mar 12
This is really absurd. I agree that having same name and family is a common thing, since most of us Filipinos have common names and family names. Granting you still got the same middle name...does it mean, the same person also has same parents name- isn't funny? I think yes, this is another modus for "kotong" ugh!
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
23 Mar 12
The person who assisted me that day wasn't not present when I got my two new clearances. I found out that there are applicants who can already do oath taking in their office. They also have an attorney who signs the affidavit after the oath taking. That's what I did after I spoke with the OIC of the director. I never paid. I asked one of them why the person who assisted me advised me to go to court wherein they already have an attorney inside the office. He said that maybe this person can't find any proof that I'm not the person who is wanted for concubinage. If he was there, I'll scold him.
@chiyosan (30186)
• Philippines
19 Mar 12
Wow! I had to read your story and well i think there is nothing new with the ways of the agencies to try con money from the people. Everything in the country has to be paid, all clearances, everything related to barangay clearance, to police clearances, and so on.. i think they are to be given for free! ha ha
Were they able to tell you about the process of paying the 150 bucks just to give you a clearance? i would assume that is on top of the 120 pesos you will pay the NBI for the form, right?
1 person likes this
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
Like you, I always get a "hit" when I renew my NBI clearance. But so far, I haven't had the same trouble as you have where this namesake of yours has a case. And for me, this sounds fishy. Concubinage case? Are you married? These are some basic information that our NBI should consider when it comes to a "hit". If all information matches and not just the name.
I remember my brother had the same dilemma six years back when he was getting an NBI clearance for his travel papers. He was offered a job abroad and needed the NBI clearance and unfortunately his name got a "hit". What's more frustrating is that my brother and his namesake share the same birthday and they both live in Quezon City. And the case against his namesake? Murder!
I can no longer recall the steps we took in order to clear my brother's name. He was able to get his NBI clearance and work abroad and has been living there for six years now. This NBI clearance is a scam if you ask me, because it is always a requirement when you apply for a job but does it really help the employer? It's a scam and discriminatory especially for those who have common names. I even had the bad experience where the NBI employee laughed when I got a "hit" because he said that it's my fault that I have a common name. I wonder what name would he have expected my parents to give me? Kurdapya?
. I wonder what name would he have expected my parents to give me? Kurdapya? 
@LetranKnight25 (33117)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
Hello Wittynet, I've always wanted to work again but after hearing this, I was right, applying, and getting a lot of clearances it's obviously expensive. it seemed that after the system screw up, it became even more complicated. now they are even asking for more money from the person who are applying for clearances. makes me realize to focus on my business instead, though i want to apply for a NBI clearance again just in case...
that Government agency is getting worse, they better get a new system soon
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
You're lucky you have a business. I need this clearance because I want to work abroad. It's very obvious that they don't want to have our information updated. They're always saying that these HITs are already in the system and can no longer be rectified. How absurd! They want to earn commissions from payments of people who have no choice but to comply. How frustrating!
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
19 Mar 12
If you want an easy and fast way to get pass this problem, go to the Tulfo brothers and let's see how fast those people at NBI can give you the certificate. My name has a HIT also, and like you said it's just a matter of going to the main office to do the same thing over and over again instead of the more convenient way of doing it at a branch.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
19 Mar 12
So, this really happens to those who shares the same name with a person. 
It's obviously another modus of NBI to be able to get additional fee. Imagine , you started applying for it 1994 , and the case was 1998, yet until now, they would say it's because of that.
This is actually another good case for Imbestigador or Isumbong mo kay Tulfo to solve , my friend. Ano kaya isumbong mo?
It's obviously another modus of NBI to be able to get additional fee. Imagine , you started applying for it 1994 , and the case was 1998, yet until now, they would say it's because of that.
This is actually another good case for Imbestigador or Isumbong mo kay Tulfo to solve , my friend. Ano kaya isumbong mo?1 person likes this
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
18 Mar 12
Yes. You are correct! I am sure you don't have the same process in your country. When I was a kid, during my elementary years, I heard about this issue for few times. Most people who want to work abroad are having difficulty securing all necessary documents because of this issue. Most of them do comply with what these people advise them to do. I really hate it! That's why I never stopped making follow up calls until finally they assured me that I no longer need to go to court to clear my name. Meaning to say, there is just a need for people to complain to stop this kind of modus operandi.
