Mayor slams 'racial undertones' of Chinese influx issue in Cagayan

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. 

"Ano po ba ang mali sa'min? Ano po ang mali sa Tuguegarao? Hindi ba puwede mag stay dito ang mga Chinese? Hindi ba puwede mag stay ang mga tao na gusto lang magkaron ng maayos na pagaaral?" asked Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que at the Pandesal Forum. 

(What's wrong with Tuguegarao? Aren't we allowed to have Chinese here? Should we deny them if they only want quality education?)

The mayor expressed her sentiments days after Cagayan 3rd District Representative Joseph "Jojo" Lara sought a House inquiry on the matter. 

Lara said he has 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.

He also claimed that their presence could put the country’s security at risk amid China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Tuguegarao's mayor, however, maintained that there's nothing irregular happening in the province. 

"4,600 daw, eh wala naman pong 4,600... Nakakasama lang po talaga ng loob. 'Yan po pala tingin niyo sa amin sa Tuguegarao... 'Yan pala ang tingin niyo sa mga eskuwelahan (namin)," Que said. 

(It's not true that there are 4,600 Chinese students. It's really disappointing. Is that how you see our province? Is that how you look at our schools?)

"Tuguegarao is open to everyone who wants to come here as long as they are staying here legally and not doing anything wrong. If they want to become students, if they want to reside they are welcome," she added. 

Que also emphasized that they are "very disappointed in the racial undertones that it has taken on."

Previously, Lara said that “There is nothing wrong with having foreigners" but added that national security should not be "sacrificed."

“We just want to know why. We are not against having foreign students, but what we fear is we have an issue with China. If there are 4,600 Chinese students in one private university and the private university even admits it, it is very alarming,” Lara said.

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba for his part also doused supposed security concerns amid the reported growing numbers of Chinese students in the province. 

"If ever dumadami po, hindi po surprise sa'min... We are used to the Chinese here. In fact we have three Chinese schools here," said Mamba. 

Mamba also said that there have been no untoward incidents involving Chinese nationals. 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is investigating the reported increase of Chinese students in Cagayan.

“Meron tayo d'yan how they got in the Philippines in the first place, ‘yung legality ng pagpasok nila dito sa bansa natin. Do they have the necessary papers? Sabi nga, estudyante ‘to, so meron ba silang student visa that are required,” said AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla.

(We want to know how they got to the Philippines in the first place, the legality of their entry into our country, and if they have the necessary documents such as a student visa.) 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) had said that the presence of Chinese students in Cagayan was valid and with basis and that they had been invited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). —VAL, GMA Integrated News