MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is calling for the arrest of foreigners, including Chinese nationals, who entered the Philippines illegally.
In a statement posted on the Senate’s official website, Pangilinan said undesirable aliens should then be deported following legal proceedings.
“Since it has been established by testimonial evidence that tens of thousands of these Chinese nationals entered the country through illegal means then they should immediately be arrested and deported,” said Pangilinan.
“Illegal nationals take away jobs for Filipinos, rob the government of taxes, and possibly put our national security at risk.”
In 2019, the Bureau of Immigration arrested 2,000 foreigners the majority of which were Chinese nationals who entered the Philippines illegally.
Moreover, the so-called “pastillas scheme” allowed the illegal entry of Chinese nationals into the Philippines with the foreigners entering the country without the proper background checks in exchange for bribes.
Commonwealth Act 613, as amended by Republic Act 503, provides the provisions on the deportation of aliens and Pangilinan sees this legislation as the toughest measure in the expulsion of illegal foreigners.
“Foreign nationals who have circumvented immigration laws in connivance with corrupt immigration employees have forfeited their right to stay in the country and therefore should be arrested and immediately deported,” said Pangilinan who is also a lawyer.