Congresswoman Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda wants an investigation into the growing presence of Chinese nationals in Iloilo City.
“I would like to respectfully request that your good office investigate this matter through the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) in earnest,” Baronda said in her letter addressed to Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
The investigation, according to Baronda, aims to “ensure that our people are safe and that our national security is protected.”
According to Baronda, she has received reports that “Chinese nationals have taken residences in upscale subdivisions in [the city].”
Among these subdivisions, as identified by the Ilongga lawmaker, are Puerto Real de Iloilo and Ledesco Subdivision in La Paz district and Monterosa Subdivision in Mandurriao district.
“Though these foreigners have not caused trouble in the community and have been nice to their neighbors, what bothers the Ilonggo residents is that they are said to be from mainland China and could barely speak English,” Baronda said.
“There are households where no one or only one of five speaks English. It also piqued the interest of the Ilonggo residents that these Chinese nationals have bought the houses for P30 million to P50 million and have luxury SUVs at their disposal,” she further said.
Baronda stressed that “while these are mere suspicions, it is better to validate the veracity of these reports whether these alleged Chinese are engaged in nefarious activities or not, as the Filipino people are worried about the so-called Chinese ‘sleeper agents.'”
Baronda mentioned the matching of fingerprints of embattled Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping and the arrest of 17 Chinese nationals in Jaro district last year.IMT
