Barbers: Chinese students in Cagayan could be spies

Lawmakers said there is nothing wrong about being suspicious regarding the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan, as they may be spies sent to gather information on two Enhanced Defense Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA) sites in the province.

In an interview with GMA Super Radyo DZBB, Surigao del Norte 2nd District representative Robert “Ace” Barbers questioned the motives of the Chinese students to enroll in Cagayan, as they could be spies or members of sleeper celles sent to gather intelligence.

“Bakit ba lahat sila nandiyadiyaan sa Cagayan kung saan malapit yung EDCA site? Bakit ganon karami ang nag-e-enroll diyan? ‘Di ba ‘pag gusto mong mag-master’s (degree), kukuha ka ng mga unibersidad na malalaki sa ibang bansa?” he said in the interview which was also aired on GMA’s 24 Oras Weekend on Sunday.

“Ganon ba karami talaga ‘yung interesado mag-master’s from China? Hindi nga marunong magsalita ng Ingles, pero nakakakuha ng masteral degree,” he mused.

(Why are they all there in Cagayan close to the EDCA site? Why are there so many enrolling there? Isn’t it that if you want to pursue a masters (degree), you would go to a big university overseas?

Is there really that much interest to get a master’s degree from China? They do not know how to speak in english but they are able to get a masteral degree.)

Cagayan houses two EDCA sites with the United States — the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, and the Lal-lo Airport. The two sited are geographically the nearest to Taiwan.

Authorities are now looking into information of Chinese students in Cagayan, as well as those who enrolled in Subic who reportedly were able to buy Philippine land and secure Philippine documents such as national IDs, passports and licenses to carry arms.

Barbers also cited a raid where firearms were recovered from Chinese nationals inside a residential subdivision in Taguig City.

“Ito ba ay karugtong nung pagdami din ng mga estudyante sa Cagayan? Ito ba ay karugtong din ng mga lupa na binili ng Chinaman na malapit sa ating airport, malapit sa ating seaport?” he said.

“Maaring ‘yung iba diyan ay talagang spy or sleeper cells or ika nga ‘yung nagga-gather lang ng info,” he added.

(Is this related to the influx of students in Cagayan? Is this related to Chinese buying land close to our airport, close to our seaport?)

Philippine laws currently restrict direct land ownership by foreigners, but they may acquire property ownership through other avenues such as in condominiums provided the total foreign ownership in a single project does not exceed 40%.

GMA Integrated News has tried to reach out to Cagayan governor Manuel Mamba for comment on the matter, but no response has been received as of this posting.

Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros also earlier said she would file a resolution seeking a probe into the matter, as she questioned whether this could be another instance of the “pastillas scam.”

“Visa Upon Arrival (VUA) and other immigration processes have been abused in the past, as it enabled the unchecked entry of Chinese nationals working for POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators),” she said.

“Our hearings on the pastillas scam led to the suspension of the VUA system at that time. The same might apply in this alarming new development,” she added.

The senator said the presence and number of the Chinese students in Cagayan were “out of the ordinary” and in no way “discriminatory”. The solon said she is considering filing a resolution before the Senate to investigate the matter when Congress reopens on April 29.

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

The mayor of Tuguegarao City on Saturday expressed disappointment over what she called a "racist and politicized" issue about the supposed growing number of Chinese students in the province.

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Thursday belied the 'malicious' accusations related to the alleged surge in the number of Chinese students in Cagayan province.—Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News