PRA told to explain young Chinese retirees

Sen. Richard Gordon (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

Sen. Richard Gordon on Tuesday warned of an impending Senate investigation into the influx of young Chinese retirees into the country, amid suspicion that this was another source of bribery of government employees similar to the “pastillas” scam in the Bureau of Immigration.

Gordon said the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) should fully explain why it allowed about 28,000 Chinese nationals to retire in the country, 40 percent of whom were supposedly aged 35, when the PRA faced the Senate plenary for its 2021 funding.

“We will have our chance [to confront PRA]. We will be asked by the senators on the budget, and surely, that will come out. They must be ready [to explain] because if not, then we’ll investigate,” he said.

Gordon echoed his frustrations over revelations in a recent Senate hearing where PRA officials confirmed the arrival of about 28,000 Chinese in the country as retirees, but are “of soldier’s age.”

He questioned the PRA policy that allowed Chinese as young as 35 to settle in the Philippines as retirees.

“With all due respect to China, their actions make me wary about them. That’s me personally,” he said.

He said that the young retirees might be in the country for two reasons: to work in the Philippine offshore gaming operators and to undertake intelligence activities.

“That worries me even more,” he said.

He cited how history should have taught Filipinos to be wary of foreigners. INQ