Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (PPAB)

Smelling something fishy, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers is prodding the Marcos administration to look into the alleged granting of lease to operate to at least 85 Chinese-owned firms by certain local government units (LGUs) in the coastal towns of Bataan, Zambales and Pangasinan for still unknown businesses.

Barbers, overall chairman of the House quad-committee, said he had received reliable information from local fishermen in these areas on the suspicious activities of the Chinese-owned firms.

He cited fears that the activities from the foreigners could deprive local fisherfolks of their livelihood.

“According to one of my fishermen-sources, halos lahat ng mangingisda sa mga shorelines na pinaupahan na sa mga Chinese nationals ay nawawalan na ng hanapbuhay dahil itinataboy at di sila pinapadaan sa mga pinaupahan na mga shorelines,” Barbers said.

(Almost all of the fishermen along the shorelines that are being rented by these Chinese nationals are losing their livelihood because they are being driven away from these shorelines.)

“If indeed these more than 80 Chinese firms were allowed to lease, operate and 'exploit' properties in those coastal towns, who or what government agencies, aside from the LGUs, have allowed them to operate and what type of businesses they are engaged in?” he asked.

The veteran solon from Surigao del Norte made the call after the Palace last week ordered an investigation on allegations that arrested Chinese spies Wang Ingyi, Wu Jaren, Cai Shaohuang and Chen Haitao donated 10 Chinese-made motorcycles worth around US$2,500 or P144,800 each to the Manila police.

Reports said Wang also had been seen in a Shandong ACFROC social media post in July 2022 when he handed over a P500,000 check labeled as a “poverty alleviation bursary” to the mayor of Tarlac City and the local police force.

Barbers said it now seems apparent that the “Chinese spies-invaders” have adopted the same illegal business patterns of the banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country.

This involves befriending and reportedly corrupting certain law enforcement and local government officials, so they would allow their unhampered nefarious activities in their localities.

Barbers also urged Malacañang to determine the legal basis and protocols used by LGUs along the coastal towns of Zambales, Bataan, and Pangasinan in granting the lease to Chinese firms of what supposed to be are government properties along shorelines and agricultural lands to the Chinese-owned firms in their respective localities.

Barbers said there were also reports about the presence for almost three months now of two Chinese-owned ships in the waters off two barangay coastal villages of Palauig town in Zambales.

He says the ships' activities are as yet undetermined since the local coast guard and other concerned agencies are either just standing by or keeping a “blind eye” to their presence.

“These ships could be engaged in dredging activities, mining, smuggling and possibly drug smuggling. But the concerned law enforcement agencies are doing nothing about them," said the quad-comm overall chairman.

"Mukhang natutulog sa pancitan o bayad na siguro ang mga lokal na ahente ng Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Immigration, the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, LGUs, at iba pa sa mga nasabing lugar,” he lamented.

(Looks like the local agents of the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Immigration, the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, LGUs and other agencies are either sleeping on the job or on the take.)