Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro condemned the rounding up of around 100 Filipino workers in China, describing the action as a blackmail to cover-up for the illegal activities conducted by some Chinese in the country.

Teodoro was referring to the report in a Chinese newspaper about the arrest of more than 100 Filipinos for alleged illegal employment and illegal residence in China.

But the DND chief would not buy the reasoning mentioned, saying Filipinos in China have neither the intent nor the capacity to commit violations of Chinese laws compared to what some of the Chinese have been doing in the country.

“The action against 100 Filipinos is plain and simple extortion and blackmail. We strongly condemn both the attempt by China to interfere in our law enforcement processes and the blatant blackmail against Filipinos,” said Teodoro in a statement.

Compared to what was done against Filipinos in China, Teodoro said the arrests of some Chinese in the country were conducted on the basis of search warrants issued by the proper courts.

Earlier, the National Bureau of Investigation raided and shut down a steel factory in Pampanga for allegedly producing steel products that do not comply with Philippine national standards and possible violations of environmental laws.

Several Chinese were also arrested in an establishment in Mindanao in May this year. 

Teodoro said the Chinese arrested by the authorities in the country were the principals of the illegal enterprise.

“Chinese authorities stress the issue of the work visas and passports of these individuals while refusing to address the illegal activities that they perpetuated. This is an admission by them that indeed the acts of these individuals were illegal under Philippine law,” said Teodoro.

“Filipinos in China have neither the intent nor the capacity to commit violations of Chinese law, much less in the scale perpetuated by Chinese nationals here. The fact that the Chinese government is actively covering up for these individuals is the best evidence of their complicity in the nefarious acts of these people,” he added.

Teodoro also reiterated that if the Chinese nationals were not involved in illegal activities, “then they will be treated in the same way as other law-abiding foreigners residing in the Philippines.”