4 million Chinese in PH due to lax immigration – Hontiveros

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s lax policies on immigration, allegedly fueled by corrupt practices and illegal activities mainly linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators, have allowed up to 4 million Chinese to enter the country, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Monday.

“This is really alarming, especially in the context of China’s continued occupation of the Philippines’ territories in the West Philippine Sea, and the destruction of our marine resources there,” she said.

Hontiveros said the number of Chinese in the country might already be bigger than the population of Quezon City, the country’s biggest city.

Hontiveros cited data presented by the National Bureau of Investigation in the ongoing Senate investigation into the “pastillas scam,” or the bribery scandal involving the entry of Chinese into the country.

—Melvin Gascon