Bato wants whole-of-gov’t probe on Chinese influx in Cagayan

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa called for a whole-of-government investigation into the reported influx of Chinese students in Cagayan province to check for possible “underlying motives.”

“Kung totoo man ‘yan, dapat hindi nagpatulog-tulog ‘yung ating mga otoridad. Dapat maimbestigahan ‘yan para malaman natin at handa tayo kung anuman ang mayroon man yang mga underlying motives sa kanilang presensya d’yan. Dapat malaman natin,” Dela Rosa told reporters in a phone interview.

“Whole-of-government approach na ito. For all we know maya-maya pagkita mo sa mga Chinese na ‘yan may mga Philippine passport holder… Hindi natin alam,” he added, recalling the recent Senate investigation into the cases of foreigners using Philippine passports.

(If that is true, the authorities should not sleep on the issue. That should be investigated so we can know the truth and we can prepare for any underlying motives.)

He noted the lack of coordination among law enforcement agencies and government units in finding out the truth behind the supposed influx of Chinese students in the northern part of the country.

“Kanya kanya. Kaya dapat magka-isa sila para iisang direksyon lang ang kanilang tatahakin. Hindi lang, hindi lang [Bureau of] Immigration, lahat ng ahensya dapat intelligence community ng Armed Forces ng PNP, lahat magtutulung-tulungan sila para ma-establish talaga nila ‘yung true picture on why the proliferation of these Chinese nationals in that particular area in the Philippines. Why and why and why until you find out the reason why,” he said.

(They are working separately. That’s why they should coordinate with each other so there is only one direction in addressing the matter. This should not only be addressed by the Bureau of Immigration but also by the intelligence units of the AFP and the PNP. They should work together to see the true picture of the supposed proliferation of Chinese nationals in that particular area of the Philippines.)

The AFP said it was investigating the matter.

For Dela Rosa, the investigation should be conducted to erase doubts and to avoid a “too late the hero” outcome.

“Dapat talaga magsimula na ngayon, magsimula na ‘yung imbestigasyon. Hindi ‘yung maghintay pa tayo na magmukha na lang tayong tanga sa mga pangyayari. Nakakabahala talaga. Nakakabahala yan ah. Hindi ‘yan dapat ipagwawalang bahala lang,” he said.

(They should start the investigation now. We should not wait for any further actions that might put us at a disadvantage. That’s alarming and we should not turn a blind eye on this matter.)

It is normal for Filipinos to cast doubts on the reported influx of Chinese students in the country, Dela Rosa said, noting that it was the tactic used during the Japanese occupation. 

“History will tell us na bago tayo in-invade ng Japanese noon eh matagal nang invaded dito sa ating community yung mga tauhan nila…Nakita na lang ng mga ninuno natin na nakasuot na ng uniporme ‘yung mga hapon na ‘yun. So pwedeng mangyari ‘yan, posibleng posible talaga ‘yan. At dapat hindi natin pabayaan yan, aksyunan kaagad dapat natin yan,” he said.

(History will tell us that before the Japanese occupied us, there were already sleeper cells that had invaded our communities. There is a high possibility that it could happen again. We should not let that happen and we should take immediate action on this matter.)

He also refuted the statement of the Chinese Embassy, which tagged the claims as a “malicious” way for Filipino politicians to incite hatred of China.

“Dapat ma-explain para maklaro tayo kasi alam mo dapat ang ayusin nila muna ‘yung mga actions nila, para hindi magiging kaduda-duda on our part. Normal lang sa atin ‘yan na magdududa. Alam natin ‘yung ginagawa nila sa West Philippine Sea. Kaya sino bang hindi magdududa kung wala silang ginagawang masama dyan sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.

(They should explain to clarify the issue. But first, they should fix their actions so we will not cast doubts on them. It is normal for us to doubt them because we know what they are doing in the West Philippine Sea.)

“Huwag nilang diktahan ‘yung mga mga Pilipino, partikular ‘yung mga politicians sabi nila nagha-hype hype lang…Merong historical background ‘yung pagdududa namin eh… Buti sana kung mabait sila hindi tayo magdududa, eh sinasalbahe nila tayo d’yan sa West Philippine Sea. Eh ano pa, ano tayo magtatanga-tangahan?” he asked.

(They should not dictate to Filipinos, particularly the politicians whom they said are hyping the hate against them. Our mistrust has a historical background. They are harming Filipinos in the West Philippines. Are we going to make fools out of ourselves?)

The issue was first brought to light by Cagayan Rep. Joseph “Jojo” Lara who sought a House inquiry into the reports of 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.

Earlier in the day, private higher education institutions in Cagayan issued a joint statement denying reports on the supposed influx of Chinese students in the province.

The concerned colleges and universities said there were only 486 foreign students at St. Paul University Philippines in Tuguegarao City.

Other institutions, including the University of Cagayan Valley, University of St Louis Tuguegarao, and Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines, currently do not have foreign students, they said.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) earlier said there were no Chinese students enrolled in local public colleges and universities in Cagayan apart from St. Paul University– Tuguegarao, the only school that has the proper authority to accept international students. — DVM, GMA Integrated News