Palace asks Gordon to share with gov’t info on cash brought in by China citizens

Malacañang on Monday asked Senator Richard Gordon to provide government information about the possible involvement of Chinese nationals in money laundering activities in the country.

Gordon said last week that about $188 million in cash had been brought into the country by Chinese nationals between December and February.

He said such huge sums of money could be used for anomalous purposes, including funding state enemies.

“If the good senator has information on that, I think they should provide us with intelligence reports so that we can pursue their line of belief on that matter,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters.

On Sunday, Gordon said the Senate blue ribbon committee, which he chairs, will hold its own investigation into the matter once the Senate committee on women and children, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, finishes its probe on the issues surrounding the influx of Chinese workers into the Philippines.

Asked if the Palace will carry out a parallel probe, Panelo said, “Most likely it will but if there’s already a Senate investigation ordinarily the President waits for that.”

Panelo also said President Rodrigo Duterte has not issued a statement or directive on the matter. —NB, GMA News