MANILA, Philippines — There is no evidence that members of the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is in the country, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said Monday.
“No, none,” he answered when asked if the PNP had evidence of the existence of PLA members in the Philippines.
Last week, Senator Panfilo Lacson revealed that there is a “good number” or about 2,000 to 3,000 Chinese soldiers in the Philippines, but the information was still being verified.
READ: ‘A good number’ of Chinese army reportedly in Philippines – Lacson
PLA is the unified organization of China’s land, sea, and air forces and is one of the largest military forces in the world.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier ordered PNP to investigate the alleged presence of about 3,000 members of the PLA who sneaked into the country by posing as Philippine online gaming operation (Pogo) workers.
READ: DILG probes Sino soldiers in Pogos
The presence of PLA members in the country was highlighted after police seized PLA identification cards from two suspects in the slay of Yin Jian Tao, who was shot inside a VIP room of a restaurant in Makati City.
READ: ‘PLA’ IDs add to Chinese slay mystery
Senator Richard Gordon earlier warned that Chinese couriers have brought over $160 laundered million into the Philippines, which could be used to fund a group of people secretly working for the enemy, or otherwise known as a “fifth column.”
The Bureau of Customs confirmed that two suspected indicates identified as “Chinese” brought into the Philippines at least $370 million (P18.7 billion) in foreign dirty money, which are possibly being used for criminal activities.
READ: BOC confirms $370M in dirty money entered PH with PNP, AFP, airport escorts
The discovery of the PLA IDs should be investigated as some of the Chinese workers in the country are within the age of army recruits, the senator further said.
Gordon also alleged that China may be using Pogos for intelligence gathering in the country.
READ: Gordon: Pogos may be cover for China spies
In a statement last week, the Chinese embassy said that the incidents of money laundering and illegal pornography committed by Chinese individuals in the Philippines are only “isolated incidents.”
READ: Money laundering, pornography by Chinese only ‘isolated incidents’