PH not targeting any particular nationals, Palace assures China

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

Castro said Chinese nationals are not harassed in the country. (PNA file photo by Robert Alfiler)

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday assured China that none of the foreign nationals visiting the Philippines are being harassed.

“Tandaan po natin, lahat po dito ay welcome, except po of course kapag gumagawa po ng krimen. I-implement po natin kung ano po ang batas (Let’s remember, everyone here is welcome, except of course when they commit a crime. Let’s implement what the law is),” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

This, after the Chinese government warned Chinese citizens over what it claimed was an “unstable” security situation in the Philippines.

In a travel advisory issued by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, Chinese citizens in the Philippines and those planning to go to the country were advised to “strengthen security precautions and emergency preparedness.”

The embassy also cited the alleged increased “security risks” faced by Chinese citizens and institutions in the Philippines, as well as the alleged “frequent investigations and harassment” of Chinese citizens and enterprises.

Castro said Chinese nationals are not harassed in the country.

“Ang kanilang (Their) travel advisory, it’s just a normal consular function of China. At (And) we can assure China na hindi po tayo nagta-target ng particular nationality or particular national para i-harass (that we are not targeting a particular nationality or particular national to harass).”

Castro also clarified that the case of Chinese nationals engaged in Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) is a different issue, since they are involved in illicit operations.

She said the Department of Foreign Affairs is ready to discuss with the Chinese government the issues surrounding the Chinese citizens who have been arrested and deported because of their links to illegal POGOs.

“Malamang po nasasabi po nila ito dahil sa ating pagpapatupad dito sa POGO na dapat ay mawala na sa atin. At karamihan po dito ay mga Chinese national.

So, malamang po ay isa ito sa mga nagiging issue po (They are probably saying this because of our implementation here on POGO which is now banned here.

And most of those involved are Chinese nationals. So, this is probably one of the issues here),” Castro said.

“Pero muli, ang DFA po ay open po for discussion regarding this at ia-assure po natin muli ang China na wala po tayong tina-target na particular national (But again, the Department of Foreign Affairs is open for discussion regarding this and we will assure China again that we are not targeting any particular national),” she added.