A LAWMAKER on Tuesday sought a congressional inquiry into the Bureau of Immigration (BI) following the reported entry of over a thousand Chinese nationals in the country some of whom are now students of a school in the Cagayan Valley where three Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites have been identified.
In a privilege speech, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said he was alarmed with the “large and unprecedented” number of Chinese nationals that had chosen to study in the province of Cagayan as the Cagayan Valley (Region 2) hosts three sites American troops can access under the EDCA between the Philippines and the United States.
“These are the Cagayan North International Airport in Lal-lo and the Camilo Osias Naval Station in Santa Ana, both in Cagayan, and Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela,” warned the legislator, who said that the extraordinary influx of Chinese workers, businessmen, tourists, and students “should not be taken for granted.”
Abante said it was suspicious and anomalous “that these foreigners obtained Filipino birth certificates, driver’s licenses, UMID cards, passports and even accreditations and auxiliary membership in the armed services, particularly in the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).”
“We should take this matter seriously. While these Chinese nationals are ‘students,’ their influx and their choice of school location should awaken and alarm us,” Abante noted.
“This does not only concern our educational system and institutions, our national security, but also honesty and integrity in government service. Corruption in the Bureau of Immigration must be stopped.”
He pointed out the history of corruption in the BI, particularly the involvement of its personnel in the departure of trafficked people in Philippines airports and the questionable entry of Chinese nationals in the country.
“No less than Immigration Commissioner Norman Garcera Tansingco has pointed out that corruption has been a long problem of the Bureau, and that they are making significant strides to catch corrupt employees and prevent other personnel from being tempted to go the rogue path, expressing hope that the technological upgrades at the BI will be able to provide another layer of security and prevent corruption,” explained Abante, chair of the House Committee on Human Rights.
These incidents as well as other issues such as the so-called “pastillas” mess resulted in the investigations of BI personnel, 86 of whom were charged with corruption, with 45 ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman.