Senators: Filipinos in China are not spies


By AMITA LEGASPI, GMA News
At least three senators on Monday countered Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua's remark that Filipino workers in China might be suspected of being spies, with one lawmaker seeing the envoy's statement as a veiled threat.
"No danger. Let me assure China [that] there are no Filipino spies in China. Huwag silang mag-alala. Ang mga Filipino sa China ay para po sa pagtatrabaho," Senator Aquilino Pimentel III told reporters when sought for comment after the hearing of the foreign affairs committee, which he chairs.
After Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expressed concern over the proximity of some Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) hubs to military camps, saying the Chinese-staffed establishments could be used for espionage purposes, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Zhao had sent him a text message in which the ambassador pointedly asked, "What if we also think that your overseas workers are also spying on us. What can you say about that?"
'Veiled threat'
Senator Risa Hontiveros said Zhao’s statement could be considered a threat.
"Ito ay maituturing na banta sa buhay at kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayang OFW sa Tsina. It is a veiled threat in response to our simple and reasonable desire to strictly regulate Chinese POGO operations in the country and ensure the country's national security," she said.
"Our OFWs are not spies. They have no history of espionage. Filipinos abroad are valued both for their skill and unique blend of hard work and care. They pose no threat. In fact, in China, our workers are employed in areas that are nowhere near military and security facilities.
"To insinuate that they could be committing espionage is not only insulting, but plainly false,” she added.
'Absurd'
Minority Leader Franklin Drilon called Zhao’s statement "absurd and beyond the realm of possibility."
He said there is no way Filipino workers in China could be engaged in spying activities for the Philippines.
"This is absurd and simply beyond the realm of possibility. Our OFWs are there to earn a living," he said in an interview with CNN Philippines.
Drilon added that Lorenzana is a competent official and that his job is to advise on matter of security.
"He has nothing but good intentions. We should defer to him," he said.
Drilon also said that the possibility that Chinese POGO workers could be used for information-gathering is not a remote possibility.
“We don’t know. Maybe not right now, but it gives them the opportunity when there’s a need for it. It’s convenient when there is a need for it. Why should we leave that chance unchecked?” he said.
Drilon also supports Lorenzana’s recommendation that POGO hubs should be located far from military installations.
“The security aspect is something that we cannot just brush aside. I cannot understand why we cannot have POGO locations farther away from military camps,” he said.
More Pinoys in HK than Beijing
Pimentel also pointed out that there are more Filipinos in Taiwan and Hong Kong than in Beijing.
“Kung titignan natin na subdivide ang Filipino sa China, andun sila saTaiwan at andun sila sa Hong Kong,  wala po sa mainland, malayo sa Beijing. ‘Wag po silang mag-alala,” he said.
Department of Foreign Affairs figures show that as of December 2018, a total of 15,376 Filipinos are in mainland China; 233,288 are in Hong Kong; and 33,180 are in Macau.
Another 151,759 Filipinos are in Taiwan.
Pimentel said Filipinos should not be alarmed by Zhao's statement as he was just replying to Lorenzana's own remarks.
Review of POGOs
Recalling Lorenzana's point that Chinese companies are mandated by the Chinese government to assist in intelligence collection for their government, Hontiveros said there should be a thorough review of all Chinese POGOs near military installations and camps.
She said that the defense department must make a comprehensive appraisal of the establishments and provide necessary proposals.
She added there should be stricter regulation of the POGO industry to ensure that revenues are monitored, taxes are paid, and domestic facilities are not used to commit crimes.
Hontiveros said there should be pressure on the Chinese government to commit more to work closely with Philippine authorities in regulating the entry of illegal and undocumented Chinese workers into the country. — BM, GMA News

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