Duterte careful about issue on illegal Chinese workers

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday called for a “careful” approach to the problem on illegal Chinese workers.

Speaking to reporters in Bohol, Duterte said the illegal Chinese workers “should be deported” but “in the same manner, you should be careful because when you point to the Chinese you also point yourself at us.”

“There are so many thousands of Filipinos working there or went inside China as tourists and working there,” he said, adding there are also Filipinos working illegally in Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea.

“Remember that we have also exported the same problem to them.”

Duterte, however, observed that the Chinese government has not deported a Filipino for working illegally in their country. 

“If you think that you are at a loss, at the disadvantage because there are so many Chinese nationals who are working here, remember that we have seen equal amount of people [Filipinos] who are there working in China,” he said.

“But wala naman silang idineport (deport). So maybe you can just tell them to go home,” Duterte added.

“Otherwise if you start to get rough on this issue, there is a distinct possibility that it will also happen to you. So you know when you sail your ship of state, you avoid turbulent waters.”

Duterte gave the reaction after the Senate labor committee started on Monday its investigation on the influx of foreign workers in the Philippines, including Chinese.

The hearing was held days after the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines during which he convinced Duterte to upgrade Philippines-China relations to "a comprehensive, strategic cooperation.”

Duterte’s conciliatory relations with China, despite the South China Sea disputes, resulted to increased trade and investment opportunities for the two countries.

During the Senate hearing, Labor and Immigration officials revealed that the bulk of foreign nationals that obtained work permits in the country are Chinese individuals who work in online gaming.

The officials also said that many of the Chinese come to the country on tourist visas, then later secure special work permits (SWPs) for three- to six-month work or alien employment permits (AEPs) for longer employment in the Philippines.

There have also been instances of Chinese individuals nabbed for working in online gaming operations but supposedly without work permits or other necessary documents.

Last week, police raided an establishment in Pasig City in which 78 of the 89 employees were Chinese. — BAP, GMA News