Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero can't help but note that while the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is strict on Filipinos going abroad, it is very lax when it comes to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) employees or players entering the Philippines.

"Strikto sila sa mga Pilipinong umaalis pagdating sa pag-ooffload pero ang luwag-luwag naman nila pagdating sa mga POGO employees, POGO players (They're strict when it comes to Filipinos leaving the country and off-loading, but they're very lenient when it comes to POGO employees, POGO players)," he said in a radio interview on DWIZ on Saturday, April 27.

"Hindi ba dapat strikto tayo sa nakakapasok sa ating bansa at maluwag tayo sa kapwa nating Pilipinong nais makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa dahil wala naman tayong polisiya laban sa pagiging OFW? (Shouldn't we be strict on those entering the country and more compassionate to Filipinos seeking better opportunities abroad since we don't have any policy against being an overseas Filipino worker)? " he added.

Escudero mentioned this after Senator Sherwin Gatchalian's recent filing of a resolution seeking an inquiry into reports of foreign students in Cagayan allegedly paying up to P2 million for degrees.

He says that BI is the first agency that he will invite in the event that he will be tasked with investigating this concern.

In filing Senate Resolution (SR) No. 1007, Gatchalian aims to determine the veracity of the allegations on the foreign students, which University of the Philippines (UP) professor Chester Cabalza revealed.

Cabalza, the founding president of the think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, also reported that some of these students do not attend their classes.

Gatchalian earlier urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to investigate such reports. For its part, CHEd implored Cabalza to formalize a complaint before initiating an investigation as CHEd has not received any complaints of violation committed by any higher education institution in Cagayan.  

Escudero said that the professor has yet to file a complaint.

"Kahit pigain ko ‘yong CHEd wala silang masasagot sa akin. Hindi kasi nila pwedeng imbestigahan kung walang nagrereklamo pagdating sa bagay na academic freedom (Even if I force CHEd to give an answer, they cannot tell me anything. They cannot investigate something that involves academic freedom if there is no complaint)," he said.

Reports surfaced that there has been an increase in the number of Chinese students "roaming around" Cagayan, particularly near an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site in the province.

Escudero said he would also highlight this concern since he also heard reports that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is barring investors from China, with which the country has no quarrel with.

"Pinipigilan nila sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa at ang ginagamit na dahilan ay may malapit na kampo doon. Nais kong malaman, may polisiya na ba talaga ang pamahalaan kaugnay nito? Pangalawa, anong pakialam ng AFP at anong kapangyarihan ng AFP pagdating sa mga namumuhunang negosyante na dayuhan dito sa ating bansa kaugnay ng kanilang mga malapit sa kampo, malapit sa ganito (They're prohibiting their entry to different parts of the country using the reason that it's near a military camp. I just want to know, is there a government policy regarding this? Secondly, since when can the AFP do such thing under the reason that it's near a military camp, or some place else)," said.

"Sa dami ng EDCA sites ang daming lugar na hindi pwedeng pasukan ng mga dayuhan kung saka-sakali. At bakit nila nililimitahan lamang sa bansang China? (With the number of EDCA sites in the country, there are a lof of areas where foreigners cannot enter if that was the case. And why is it only limited to China?)" he added.