PNP willing to help BI over reported influx of Chinese nationals

Philippine National Police chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Thursday said the PNP is willing to extend assistance to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) if it needs help with the supposed influx of Chinese nationals in the country.

Albayalde was asked for a reaction on the statement of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon that the increasing number of Chinese nationals in the Philippines is already alarming. He said it will be up to the Bureau of Immigration to verify and determine that.

"I think that's up to the Bureau of Immigration to verify. Malaki ang papel ng BI natin dito kasi pumapasok 'yan through our airports and other ports. Dumadaan sila sa mga airports natin for sure," Albayalde told reporters.

"If the BI will ask support from us, we are very much willing kasi kami when it comes to foreigners, wala po kaming authority to verify o hindi kung legal o ano 'yung presence. Wala kaming authority to ask for any document or travel document not unless he get involved in a crime," he added.

Earlier, PNP spokesman Brigadier General Bernard Banac said there is no reason to be alarmed with the reported increase of Chinese nationals in the country as the Philippines has always been a favorite destination of Chinese tourists and workers.

A task force of the Department of Finance found that more than 100,000 foreigners are in the country working for Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).

Most of the POGO workers are Chinese and supposedly don’t pay income tax which amounts to P2 billion a month, the DOF found out. — MDM, GMA News