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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider E-visa plan for Chinese tourists a bad idea; Rodriguez explains why

E-visa plan for Chinese tourists a bad idea; Rodriguez explains why

Published Oct 16, 2025 02:11 pm

At A Glance

  • Citing matters of national security, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has strongly advised President Marcos against the implementation of the proposed electronic visa (e-visa) plan of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing for Chinese nationals visiting the Philippines.
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Citing matters of national security, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has strongly advised President Marcos against the implementation of the proposed electronic visa (e-visa) plan of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing for Chinese nationals visiting the Philippines.
“I am strongly opposed to this plan of our ambassador, Jaime FlorCruz. The President should tell Mr. FlorCruz to scrap it,” Rodriguez said in a statement Thursday, Oct. 16.
“The presence of Chinese nationals in our country endangers our communities and our national security. Many of them are spies and criminals engaged in kidnapping-for-ransom, illegal gambling and other illicit activities. Proof of this is the recent arrest of Chinese spies and lawbreakers,” he claimed.
The Mindanaoan said the arrested spies were caught red-handed while surveilling critical establishments and agencies, including military camps and even the Commission on Elections.
In announcing the plan, FlorCruz said it would make the visa application process “more convenient” for Chinese nationals visiting the Philippines.
Rodrituez say what the country needs “is a stringent process that will require personal appearance and thorough vetting of visa applicants and their records and papers to prevent the entry of Chinese spies and criminals in our country".
He noted that FlorCruz’s plan was "contrary to the national policy President BBM is pursuing in the face of continuing Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea".
“The President is fighting tooth and nail for national sovereignty, denouncing in the strongest terms every act of aggression by China. Mr. FlorCruz’s plan undermines such stance and can be seen as weakness on the part of the President and our country,” he said.
Silent envoy?
Rodriguez urged the ambassador to “promote and speak more forcefully for our national interest instead of devising plans for convenience for the Chinese".
“He is often silent on instances of Chinese bullying of our fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS),” he said.
The veteran solon also urged the government to look for thousands of Chinese Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) stragglers and criminals still roaming urban areas and even the countryside.
He noted that only this week, the authorities arrested 12 Chinese nationals in Tacloban City for working without permits and visas.
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