Location of 3 isles chosen by Chinese investors ‘suspicious’ — Lacson

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Tuesday that it was “suspicious” that Chinese investors are targeting to develop three strategic islands in northern Philippines, which he said are near the country’s naval facilities.

Chinese investors are eyeing to transform into economic and tourism zones the islands Fuga in Cagayan province, and Grande and Chiquita in Subic Bay, Zambales province.

READ: Chinese investors eye 3 PH isles

“You can say that. Malapit kasi sa naval facilities,” Lacson told reporters in an interview when asked if the location of the three islands seemed suspicious.

The Philippines secured $12.16 billion worth of investments as part of the 19 business deals signed between Filipino and Chinese companies on the sidelines of President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Beijing in April for the Belt and Road Initiative forum.

Lacson admitted that the issue is a “security concern” especially when Chinese tourists were caught taking pictures of a naval facility in Palawan.

However, he said he’d like to believe that the government’s security officials are conducting a probe on the incident.

READ: Carpio: AFP must probe Chinese tourists taking photos of Palawan naval site

The senator also noted reports of Chinese vessels spotted circling Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

“It is a valid concern. Kasi meron na nga, ‘di ba swarming na ang Chinese vessels na di natin alam kung militia ba ito o civilian vessels,” Lacson said.

He added that it is up to the government to decide if it would put in place safeguards into the islands’ transformation into economic and tourism zones.

“It’s a balance between investment and security. It’s up to the government to decide maski sa safeguards kung ano ang dapat ipasok na sa safeguards para they can have both,” Lacson said. /je