The appropriate offices of the Philippine government are pursuing their background check on the Chinese students in Cagayan province despite complaints from Filipino Chinese groups who expressed worries about a possible propagation of Sinophobia, or anti-Chinese sentiments, in the country.

During the recent Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Congressman Robert Ace Barbers and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos both asserted that it is legal and proper to look into all the details surrounding the influx of the Chinese students.

Congressman Barbers emphasized, “I find it very alarming. On an inconspicuous na lugar… kasi kung magma-masters ka at mag-aaral ka, most likely ang choice mo, if you are a foreigner, ang choice mo, ang tendency kasi, doon ka pupunta sa Metro Manila, sa De La Salle University, sa Ateneo de Manila University, San Beda and all those universities na nandito sa university belt.”

“Pero kapag nandoon ka sa university na malapit doon sa area kung saan mayroong site ng EDCA (US-PH Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement), hindi ba malaking question mark? Ganoon karami, tapos ay malapit sa area ng EDCA. Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat na mainit at masalimuot ang usapin tungkol sa West Philippine Sea.”

The congressman took note of what he said were conflicting numbers of Chinese students that were given by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP) in Tuguegarao.

Cagayan 3rd District Congressman Joseph “Jojo” Lara earlier announced that he received reports from his constituents that there are at least 4,600 Chinese students in one private university alone.

“Walang problema iyong Chinese tourists eh, wala ring problema iyong Chinese investors. We welcome them! Pero iyong pupunta ka rito, nasa loob ng isang liblib na lugar, mag-aaral daw doon at ganiyan karami, dapat matingnan at masagot,” he underscored.

Secretary Abalos commented, “Tama naman na alamin ang detalye, kasi kung may discrepancy ang Immigration, kung may discrepancy ang eskuwelahan, may discrepancy ang CHED, ano ito? At hindi basta-basta discrepancy. It’s not being Sinophobic, as long as there is discrepancy… and to exacerbate this, mas lalong lumala, eh EDCA site pa nga naman. So dapat ma-check talaga. This is very alarming ‘ika nga.“

Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson, Col. Jean Fajardo, in the same forum, declared that they are conducting background checks in coordination with other concerned government agencies.

There surfaced some rumors that these students could be spies or are part of sleeper cells for the Chinese military.

“The PNP is working with other security forces to at least do background checks on the Chinese students in Cagayan,” she said.

Barbers added, “This is not Sinophobic. May nag-file po ng dalawang resolution sa Kongreso – si Congressman Lara at si Congressman Dy, and definitely, kailangan naming i-tackle at pag-usapan iyan. Walang basehan iyong sinasabing Sinophobic. Bakit? Iyong mga drogang nahuhuli dito ay nobenta porsiyento o mahigit, ang involved ay Chinese. Iyong inimbestigahan namin ngayon sa Kongreso na nagbebenta ng birth certificate, nagbebenta ng driver’s license and Filipino passport, ang behind daw dito ay Chinese mafia. Ngayong, mayroong usapin sa West Philippine Sea, biglang dadami ang estudyante na Chinese.”

He further said, “So I would urge the Chinese community, the Filipino-Chinese community na kung maaari po sana, you police your ranks.”

“Dapat mabahala tayo kasi national security ang usapan dito,” Barbers stressed.

Abalos elaborated, “It’s time to check the data. Kasi may nabasa ako ngayon sa isang pahayagan, I will quote: ‘The Bureau of Immigration said it only issued a total of 1,516 student visas to Chinese nationals in Cagayan last year… Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said only 400 Chinese students were attending physical classes in Cagayan since the school they were enrolled was still implementing distance learning. So, it’s a matter of knowing the true data here.”

Col. Fajardo stated, “Sa ngayon po, base sa ating coordination sa Police Provincial Director at sa Chief of Police doon sa Cagayan ay wala namang nare-report na mga involvement in any illegal activities itong mga Chinese nationals. Pero nabanggit nga po ni Congressman Barbers na this involves national security concern kaya ang PNP, katuwang ng ibang security forces, ay nagkakalap din at nagko-conduct din ng intelligence.”

📷 Saturday News Forum