BI: Chinese students in Cagayan have proper documents

The Bureau of Immigration said the Chinese students enrolled at St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP) in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, have proper documents.

According to the BI, a total of 1,516 Chinese nationals were granted student visas in Cagayan for 2023, all endorsed by SPUP.

“When we applied for their student visa conversion, I’m very sure that our Bureau of Immigration also has a way of determining kung mayroong derogatory record ng isang foreign national applying for a student visa. And so far, wala naman tayong na-receive na notification from BI, from the Philippine National Police, from the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said SPUP Director for Internationalization Dr. Jeremy Morales in Mariz Umali's report on ''24 Oras Weekend'' on Saturday.

(When we applied for their student visa conversion, I’m very sure that our Bureau of Immigration also has a way of determining if a foreign national applying for a student visa has a derogatory record. And so far, we haven’t received any notification from the BI, from the Philippine National Police, from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.)

At present, only 486 Chinese students are enrolled in SPUP, as others are still waiting for the next enrollment period, SPUP said.

In addition, SPUP said that its Chinese alumni usually teach in SPUP partner schools back home after graduating.

“Since 2002, we were already accredited or recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education to offer education to Chinese nationals. That’s why they come to SPUP. Kahit nung wala pa namang EDCA sites dito sa Cagayan, or sa buong Pilipinas, (Even before the EDCA sites here in Cagayan were established, or within the country) we already had Chinese students enrolled in the undergraduate programs in 2006, 2007, hanggang 2011, (up to 2011),'' Morales said.

Cagayan 3rd District Representative Joseph "Jojo" Lara is seeking a House inquiry into an apparent increase of Chinese students in the province.

He said the presence of Chinese students could put the country’s security at risk amid China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, the Concerned Private Higher Education Institutions in Cagayan said the enrollment of foreign students ''is a testament to the province’s commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and respect for human rights.''

''The insinuation that the presence of Chinese students in the city’s universities poses a threat to national security is not only baseless but also deeply offensive. It is a blatant display of racism and Sinophobia that has no place in our society, especially within the realm of our education,'' they said.

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines also belied the ''malicious'' accusations.

According to the Commission on Higher Education, it has not received complaints of violations against SPUP. But in case one is filed, CHED said it would forward it to the inter-agency committee for appropriate action.

“On the security aspect, we leave the matter to the expertise of our security agencies to investigate and recommend appropriate actions,” CHED said.

“We will support and attend congressional investigations and other inter-agency meetings concerning these allegations. We welcome and shall cooperate should any investigation be required,” it added. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News