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More than 3 million Chinese allowed entry into Philippines since 2016 — Immigration data
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Chinese Target Chinese in the Philippines
The burgeoning Chinese presence in the Philippines is generating a new and dangerous industry – loan sharking and gambling-related kidnappings of Chinese, according to a 44-page report by a Philippines-based risk consultancy.
The kidnappings, almost all by their own countrymen with the occasional aid of the odd Filipino criminal or cop, are obscured somewhat in the report by kidnappings across the country by the communist New People’s Army and the Muslim Abu Sayyaf in southern Mindanao. In addition, kidnappings by suspected or rogue government forces or police have risen dramatically, according to the report, particularly in the national capital region. Other reports indicate that rogue police activity has risen sharply in connection with President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.
In fact, according to the report, available only to subscribers by the firm, which asked to remain anonymous, kidnapping for ransom thrives in the Philippines partly “because of the alleged direct and indirect participation of influential local government officials. Corrupt government officials acting as instigators or protectors of the syndicates intercede in cases filed against syndicate members, allowing the suspects to escape, while some act as negotiators. Often, the involvement of corrupt local officials makes it more difficult for the police to pursue syndicate members.”
Manila’s Paranaque area has over the past several years burgeoned with gigantic casinos, drawing kidnap-for-ransom schemes and loan shark syndicates operating in and around them, particularly in the so-called “Entertainment City” area as the broad, flat landfill plain fronting Manila Bay has sprouted intensive construction. Ninoy Aquino International Airport is nearby.
Nearly four million Chinese nationals, including those from Hong Kong and Taiwan, have flooded into the Philippines as tourists since 2016 as President Rodrigo Duterte has opened the tourism floodgates. And, with Macau – the world’s biggest gaming destination – now closely watched by Chinese authorities in a campaign to deter corrupt officials from streaming in to gamble away government funds – the Philippines has become a go-to destination for bureaucrats with hot money.
In addition, nearly 23,000 Chinese nationals have been given visas to work in the country’s huge offshore gaming industry as the gaming companies migrate across the South China Sea from Macau and the prying eyes of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption police.
Among those whose presence is also increasing, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, are the 14K and Sun Yee On triads, which are mostly involved in money laundering, arms dealing and illegal drugs. The triads have thrived in Filipino Chinese areas for decades. In addition, the Taiwan-based United Bamboo Gang is said to be one of the top suppliers of shabu, as methamphetamine is known in the country.
The persistent year-on-year increase in kidnappings of Chinese gamblers, apparently by Chinese gangs, has led an outraged Duterte to describe the 44-hectare Okada Manila casino as a nest of kidnappers, ordering police to stay away from the giant facility. “I’d like to announce, all of you police should get out of there. It’s crawling with usurers, kidnappers,” he said in Tagalog. “If I pass by there and I see you, I’ll run you over,” he said, threatening to dismiss any policeman he saw near the casino.
Duterte, who has become increasingly disenchanted with the gaming industry and the influx of Chinese operators, late last year fired Nayong Pilipino Foundation officials for entering into a lease contract with a Chinese casino operator.
According to the report, at least 26 kidnap-for-ransom cases involving Chinese in 2018, 14 of them casino-related. But, according to the firm, it’s likely that there were far more than that, because often the victims don’t notify authorities, especially if they involve casino debt.
“In numerous cases, syndicate members seek out casino patrons that are losing and offer to ‘finance’ (bank-roll) the gambler,” according to the report. “If the gambler continues on a losing streak, the syndicate members will forcibly detain the victim (usually in high-end hotel rooms), and contact their relatives seeking repayment of the gambling debt.”
Not all victims are taken from casinos, the report continues. In a few instances, syndicate members abducted the victims from other locations – the victim’s home in one case – before detaining them in casino hotels. In some cases, but not all, victims have been beaten or otherwise tortured during their detainments.
“These incidents appear to exclusively target foreigners,” the report said. “In a majority of cases, the victims are detained by members of their own ethnicity.
On January 7, 2018, three Taiwanese abducted a fellow Taiwanese national at a casino, for instance. The victim reportedly owed the suspects PHP 100,000. Apparently the victim’s family managed to alert authorities, rescued him two days later at a hotel in nearby Baclaranbut ....
more JOBs, JOBs, JOBs for CHINESE in the PHILIPPINES (province of CHINA)
Chinese accused of molesting 3 teens could face deportation
Body is 12 character too short.
Duterte has no problem with illegal Chinese workers in PH: Maraming TNT din sa China
President Rodrigo Duterte is looking the other way at reports that thousands of illegal Chinese workers have flooded the Philippines.
Special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo said has taken an open-mind approach to fears that illegal Chinese workers were robbing Filipinos of jobs at home because a crackdown could lead to a backlash on illegal Filipinos working in China.
“If you think that you are at a loss, you are at a disadvantage because there are so many Chinese nationals working here, remember we have the same equal amount of people of Filipinos who are there working in China,” he said.
“On the Chinese illegal workers in the country who are employed in the construction and gaming industries, Digong said the government takes a tolerant attitude,” said Tulfo who was among the few select guests in Duterte’s birthday treat to his partner, Honeylet Avancena, in Hong Kong last week.
“The President said there were many Filipino workers who are illegally employed in China, but the Chinese government tolerates their stay as long as they’re not committing any crime,” Tulfo added.
Duterte on surge of Chinese workers in PHL: Bakit? We have 300k Pinoys in China
President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he cannot simply deport Chinese workers in the Philippines as he is looking out for some 300,000 Filipinos working in China.
"'Yung mga Chinese dito, hayaan mo 'yan na dito magtrabaho, hayaan mo. Bakit? We have 300,000 Filipinos in China," the president said in a speech during a campaign rally of his political party PDP-Laban in Biñan City, Laguna.
"Kaya hindi ako maka-sabing, 'o umalis kayo dito, i-deport ka doon.' Eh kung biglang paalisin yon doon 300 [thousand] of them, just like in the Middle East?" he added.Duterte does not favor deporting illegal Chinese workers
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte took a tolerant stance on the influx of Chinese workers in the Philippines.
In his speech at the PDP-Laban event in Laguna, the President said that the number of illegal Chinese workers in the country "equals" the number of undocumented Filipino workers in China.
"'Yung mga Chinese dito, hayaan mo 'yan na dito magtrabaho. Hayaan mo. Bakit? We have 300,000 Filipinos in China kaya hindi ako makasabi, 'Oh, umalis kayo dito. Deport ka doon,'" Duterte said.
(Allow the Chinese work here. Let them be. Why? We have 300,000 Filipinos in China that's why I can't say, "Oh, leave this country. We'll have you deported.")
Duterte then posed the question: "Eh kung umalis 'yung [300,000] of them?" (What if the 300,000 of them were asked to leave?)
The Philippine consulate-general in Hong Kong earlier estimated that 200,000 OFWs are working as maids in mainland China, with most of the workers recruited from Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, industry insiders estimated that there are some 100,000 to 250,000 Chinese nationals employed illegally in the country.
In his recent opinion piece on Manila Times, Special Envoy to China Ramon Tulfo described Duterte's stance on illegal Chinese workers as "tolerant." Tulfo wrote the piece after he met with the President, who visited Hong Kong for a "family trip" mid-February.
"The President said there were many Filipino workers who are illegally employed in China, but the Chinese government tolerates their stay as long as they're not committing any crime," Tulfo said.
Rise of Chinese nationals in the Philippines
In November 2018, ABS-CBN reported that the President approved of the deportation of illegal Chinese workers, but should be done "carefully."
Duterte said then that China "has not deported" any illegal Filipino workers yet, citing possible backlash if there would be a government crackdown on undocumented Chinese workers in the Philippines.
But lawmakers and various groups raised alarm over the influx of Chinese workers in the country who "take away" the jobs meant for Filipinos. (READ: Gov’t income and jobs for Filipinos ‘lost’ to Chinese workers – Villanueva)
From 2015 to 2018, Department of Labor and Employment had issued 169,893 alien working permits (AEP), 85,496 of which went to Chinese workers. (READ: How China’s online gambling addiction is reshaping Manila)
AEPs, valid up to 3 years, are required to get a working visa in the country.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration said it issued 185,000 special work permits from January to November 2018. Of the current valid SWPs, 64,087 of the total 72,010 were given to Chinese nationalsPhilippines cautioned on hasty deportation of Chinese workers – Panelo
MANILA, Philippines – China has warned the Philippines that recklessly deporting Chinese workers might affect the status of Filipino workers in China, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo revealed Tuesday.
Panelo issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte, in a speech in Biñan City, Laguna on Sunday, declared that he would allow Chinese workers to stay in the Philippines following concerns that some are skirting Philippine labor laws.
Duterte said he could not just order the deportation of Chinese workers in the country.
“The Chinese here, just let them work here. Just let them. Why? We have 300,000 Filipinos in China. That’s why I cannot just say, leave. I will deport you. What if the 300,000 (Filipinos in China) are suddenly kicked out?” he said.
Asked about the President’s fear that China might initiate retaliatory measures, Panelo said it was what Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua told him over a recent dinner if the deportation of Chinese workers is done “not in accordance with law” and “if we do it recklessly.”
“In fact, that is what the Chinese ambassador told me during dinner,” he said.
“That if this government will just deport Chinese not in accordance with law then we will also do the same. That’s tit for tat,” he added
Duterte does not favor deporting illegal Chinese workers
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte took a tolerant stance on the influx of Chinese workers in the Philippines.
In his speech at the PDP-Laban event in Laguna, the President said that the number of illegal Chinese workers in the country "equals" the number of undocumented Filipino workers in China.
"'Yung mga Chinese dito, hayaan mo 'yan na dito magtrabaho. Hayaan mo. Bakit? We have 300,000 Filipinos in China kaya hindi ako makasabi, 'Oh, umalis kayo dito. Deport ka doon,'" Duterte said.
(Allow the Chinese work here. Let them be. Why? We have 300,000 Filipinos in China that's why I can't say, "Oh, leave this country. We'll have you deported.")
Duterte then posed the question: "Eh kung umalis 'yung [300,000] of them?" (What if the 300,000 of them were asked to leave?)
The Philippine consulate-general in Hong Kong earlier estimated that 200,000 OFWs are working as maids in mainland China, with most of the workers recruited from Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, industry insiders estimated that there are some 100,000 to 250,000 Chinese nationals employed illegally in the country.
In his recent opinion piece on Manila Times, Special Envoy to China Ramon Tulfo described Duterte's stance on illegal Chinese workers as "tolerant." Tulfo wrote the piece after he met with the President, who visited Hong Kong for a "family trip" mid-February.
"The President said there were many Filipino workers who are illegally employed in China, but the Chinese government tolerates their stay as long as they're not committing any crime," Tulfo said.
Rise of Chinese nationals in the Philippines
In November 2018, ABS-CBN reported that the President approved of the deportation of illegal Chinese workers, but should be done "carefully."
Duterte said then that China "has not deported" any illegal Filipino workers yet, citing possible backlash if there would be a government crackdown on undocumented Chinese workers in the Philippines.
But lawmakers and various groups raised alarm over the influx of Chinese workers in the country who "take away" the jobs meant for Filipinos. (READ: Gov’t income and jobs for Filipinos ‘lost’ to Chinese workers – Villanueva)
From 2015 to 2018, Department of Labor and Employment had issued 169,893 alien working permits (AEP), 85,496 of which went to Chinese workers. (READ: How China’s online gambling addiction is reshaping Manila)
AEPs, valid up to 3 years, are required to get a working visa in the country.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration said it issued 185,000 special work permits from January to November 2018. Of the current valid SWPs, 64,087 of the total 72,010 were given to Chinese nationalstinakot siya ni Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua.
Malacañang assures illegal Chinese workers of due process
Metro Manila (February 26, CNN Philippines) — Malacañang assured illegal Chinese workers of due process before deportation proceedings are applied against them, the presidential spokesperson said Tuesday.
Salvador Panelo said in a media briefing Tuesday the President is cautious about the plight of thousands of Filipino illegally working in China who may face similar arbitrary immigration proceedings in case the government does the same for Chinese nationals.
"Ang sinasabi ni Presidente, we have 300,000 Filipinos illegally working there (China). Eh kung bigla mong pinauwi 'yun dito, eh 'di nagkaproblema, hindi lang sila, kundi 'yung pamilya nila. Kaya we should tread it cautiously," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Tuesday in a Palace press briefing.
[Translation: What the President is saying, we have 300,000 Filipinos illegally working there in China. If they are suddenly sent home, then they and their families would have a problem. That's why we should tread it cautiously.]
He said Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua told him over dinner that China will also do the same to Filipinos if the government deports Chinese nationals without due process. The spokesman didn't say when the dinner took place.
"If this government will just deport Chinese, not in accordance with law, then we will also do the same," Panelo said, quoting Zhao.
He later on said he and Zhao were only speaking in "general terms" and that the Chinese ambassador was not referring to the Philippines.
Panelo then said the law protects legal foreign workers.
"The immigration laws will be strictly enforced against anyone who violates it ... Chinese workers with working permits, they will be protected because they have been given the green light to work here," he said.
According to government data, almost 400 foreign nationals were arrested last year, 304 of whom were Chinese nationals either overstaying or working without permits.
The Labor department is eyeing stricter penalties against companies that continue to hire illegal foreign workers.
my advice to PINOYs is to post the faces of these CHINESE while working in Philippines at Social Media.