Palace insists PH safe for foreign students after China issues study abroad alert
While Malacañang acknowledged that China has the right to issue a security alert for Chinese students who are considering studying in the Philippines, the Palace insisted that the country remains safe for foreign students.
Manila Bulletin File Photo | Juan Carlo de Vela
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this citing decreasing crime rate, including crimes related to war on drugs and the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming operators (POGO).
"Ang kanilang advisory sa kanilang mga kababayan ay karapatan naman po nila. Obligasyon din naman po nilang pangalagaan ang kanilang mga kababayan (Their advisory to their citizens is within their rights. It is also their obligation to protect their people)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Friday, July 18.
"Pero as far as the government is concerned, alam po natin na ang crime rate sa Pilipinas ay gumaganda at bumababa (But as far as the government is concerned, we know that the crime rate in the Philippines is improving and decreasing)," Castro added.
The Palace official also cited the quicker police response to the citizens' concerns about crime.
She stressed that the crimes linked to the past administration's war on drugs have "decreased or disappeared," as well as the crimes associated with POGOs.
A number of Chinese nationals, who were involved in the operations of POGO in the country, have also been deported, Castro further said.
Castro likewise cited the country's ranking in the 2025 Global Peace Index, which "indicates that safety and security in the Philippines is getting better—as far as we are concerned."
"So ang pananaw po ng China ay ganun, hindi naman po natin ito hahadlangan dahil karapatan po nila 'yan (So, if it is the perspective of China, we will not block it because that is within their rights),"
Castro also made an assurance that "everyone, not just Chinese nationals, will be given protection" while they are in the country.
The Chinese Ministry of Education has advised Chinese students considering pursuing study in the Philippines to carefully assess safety risk amid a surge in crimes targeting Chinese nationals.