BI slammed over concerns on Chinese students influx in PH

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday slammed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) which he said should be questioned for allowing a "growing number of Chinese students" in the country and has raised security concerns. 

“Kung talagang may duda na mga espiya ‘yan bakit hindi ginawa ng Bureau of Immigrations ang kanilang trabaho?” Escudero, chairperson of the Senate committee on higher education, told Unang Balita in an interview.

(If there is really doubt that they are spies, why didn't the Bureau of Immigration do their job?).

The senator also questioned the bureau for supposedly being lenient with the entry of Chinese nationals into the country while being strict with Filipinos going abroad. 

“Hindi ba dapat strikto tayo sa pumapasok sa ating bansa at mas maluwang tayo sa mga lumalabas sa ating bansa dayuhan man o kapwa nating Pilipino?,” he asked.

(Shouldn't we be strict with those who enter our country and more open with those who leave our country, whether foreigners or fellow Filipinos?)

GMA News Online has sought comment from the BI on the matter but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

Earlier, the BI said a total of 1,516 Chinese nationals were granted student visas in Cagayan for 2023, all endorsed by St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP).

This comes after House of Representatives, Cagayan 3rd District Representative Joseph "Jojo" Lara sought an inquiry into an apparent increase of Chinese students in the province. He said  their presence could put the country’s security at risk amid China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Lara said he received reports from his constituents that there are at least 4,600 Chinese students in one private university alone, and that they have been spotted in public places wearing student IDs.

Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que, however, denied this claim saying the figures are inaccurate. Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba also doused supposed security concerns amid the reported growing numbers of Chinese students in the province. 

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines also belied what it described as 'malicious' accusations.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros has urged the committee on national defense to investigate the policy, public safety, and national security implications of foreigners' alleged use of falsified or unlawfully obtained documents and other schemes to present themselves as citizens of the Philippines. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News