PAOCC: Embassy said Filipinos in China to be arrested if 69 Chinese workers weren't freed

Representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Manila told the Presidential Anti-Organized Commission that Filipinos in China will be arrested if the Chinese workers arrested at a steel plant in Misamis Oriental were not released

At a hearing of a Senate committee on Thursday, PAOCC executive director Benjamin Nacorda, Jr., said the visit from the Chinese embassy representatives happened after the arrest of the 69 Chinese workers who were without the required work visas in the province.

"During their visit to my office, your honor, Madam Chair, and this is what was painful, after our conversation, we were told that there is a threat that the Filipinos in their country will be arrested if we do not release the Chinese workers," Acorda told committee chairperson Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

GMA News is getting comment from the Chinese embassy rergarding the matter.

Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. on Thursday condemned China’s action against more than 100 Filipinos suspected of illegally working or living in China.

Teodoro issued the statement after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China had taken action against over 100 Filipinos as part of a campaign against foreigners suspected of illegally entering, living, or working in the country.

“The action against 100 Filipinos is plain and simple extortion and blackmail,” Teodoro said.

“We strongly condemn both the attempt by China to interfere in our law enforcement processes and the blatant blackmail against Filipinos,” he added.

The alleged threat was pertaining to a raid on a steel manufacturing company in Misamis Oriental, which led to the arrest of 69 Chinese nationals because they had no work permit.

In response, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said that threats like that were not at all appreciated for legitimate law enforcement operations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that it is coordinating with its Chinese counterparts and working to verify the conditions of the arrested Filipinos.

"We call on Chinese authorities to safeguard the welfare of the arrested Filipinos and to promptly notify our Foreign Service Posts of their arrest and detention, consistent with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the 2013 Philippines-China Consular Agreement,” the DFA said in a statement. –Jean Mangaluz/NB, GMA News