‘No Sinophobia, racism in probe of Chinese students’

MANILA, Philippines — There is no Sinophobia or racism involved in investigating the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan where Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites are located, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has reiterated.

“We are just asking the right questions. Our concern here is our national security,” Barbers, chair of the House committee on dangerous drugs, told reporters in a news forum in Quezon City over the weekend. 

“This is a national security issue. It isn’t bad for us to doubt, to ask questions and to investigate,” he added.

Barbers’ statement came after civic leader Teresita Ang See branded as “dangerous and unfortunate” what she described as the Sinophobia and racism that emerged amid reports of the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan.

Barbers urged the Filipino-Chinese community in the Philippines to “police your own ranks” amid illegal activities involving Chinese nationals.

“We’re not being anti-China here,” he said.

“The house that was raided in Taguig and in Multinational (Village in Parañaque City) where authorities found high caliber guns, aren’t Chinese nationals involved?” he asked.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos echoed Barbers’ sentiment, saying all foreign nationals are welcome to visit the country as long as they have a legitimate purpose.

“Regardless of your race, if you did something wrong... What’s wrong is wrong. It’s just a coincidence that Chinese nationals are being investigated,” Abalos said.

There is a need to know the exact figure of Chinese nationals enrolled in Cagayan as various agencies reported different numbers, he noted.