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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Dapat tayo'y magdududa': Bato says gov't must probe influx of Chinese students in Cagayan

'Dapat tayo'y magdududa': Bato says gov't must probe influx of Chinese students in Cagayan

Published Apr 19, 2024 10:40 am

At A Glance

  • Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said that the government should think one step ahead and investigate the reported increase in the number of Chinese students who have enrolled in Cagayan.

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said that the government should think one step ahead and investigate the reported increase in the number of Chinese students who have enrolled in Cagayan.

"Dapat advance yung pag-iisip natin. Dapat tayo'y magdududa talaga. Dapat one step ahead tayo (We should think in advance. We should really be doubtful about this. We should be one step ahead)," Dela Rosa said in an interview on Friday, April 19.

According to him, being doubtful is part of being vigilant about the situation.

"Dapat talaga ma-establish talaga yan nung mga tao na yan kung anong purpose nila dyan at kung talaga bang cover lang nila yung kanilang mga ginagawa ngayon dyan para sa isang mas malawakan, mas malalim na purpose (Those people should establish their purpose there, or if they're just using it as a cover for something that has a wider and deeper purpose)," he said.

The senator said that law enforcement agencies should work together in investigating the matter.

"Dapat magkaisa sila para iisang direksyon lang ang kanilang tatahakin. Hindi lang immigration, lahat ng ahensya dapat, intelligence community ng armed forces ng PNP lahat magtutulung-tulungan sila (They should come together make sure that everybody is on the same page. Not just the immigration, all agencies should be involved including the intelligence community of the armed, the PNP, all of them should help each other)," he said.

"Para ma-establish talaga nila yung eksaktong yung (So that they can establish the) 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 added.

However, the Chinese Embassy in Manila claimed Thursday, April 18, that a Philippine lawmaker’s attempt to investigate the increasing number of Chinese students in Cagayan, one of the provinces near Taiwan, incites hatred of China.

This was after Cagayan 3rd district Rep. Joseph Lara filed a House resolution calling for a probe into the alarming rise of Chinese students enrolled in higher institutions. The embassy only dismissed his concern, and said that it was only “hyping up China-Philippines maritime issues".

But Dela Rosa said that it's the same maritime dispute that's causing suspicion on the part of the Philippines.

"May isyu tayo dito sa claims natin dyan sa West Philippine Sea kaya normal lang na magduda tayo (We have an issue regarding our claims there in the West Philippine Sea so it's normal for us to be doubtful)," he said.

He also said that China should not dismiss a lawmaker's actions as mere “hyping".

The reported increase in the number of Chinese students who have enrolled in Cagayan prompted the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to launch a monitoring activity as fears of espionage were floated on social media.

Related Tags

chinese government Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) West Philippine Sea (WPS) Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa bureau of immigration
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