Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Barbers —photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers again maintained that he and other House of Representatives lawmakers are not racists or Sinophobes, noting that they are merely against Chinese individuals doing illegal things in the country.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Barbers was asked about netizens’ observations that he has been vocal when it comes to issues involving Chinese nationals—like the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the alleged infiltration of Chinese students in Cagayan, and most recently, the probe on illegal drugs, which has focused on Chinese nationals illegally owning warehouses in Central Luzon.
READ: Owner of warehouse storing drugs used fake identity, says Barbers
In response, Barbers said that he and other House lawmakers welcome legitimate Chinese businesspeople and tourists—but not those with sinister intentions.
“I have been addressing that question because I’ve been branded as Sinophobic. But I am not Sinophobic, I am only mad at Chinese doing illegal things—those who bring drugs, those who kidnap people, those who engage in human trafficking, those who do money laundering, those who cut off heads, do murder—these are things that make me feel angry, and that’s not Sinophobia,” he clarified.
READ: Barbers: No racism in probing influx of Chinese students in Cagayan
“Again, the House investigation we’re doing is not sinophobia. Congress is not a sinophobe. We welcome legit businessmen. We welcome legit Chinese tourists. We welcome all Chinese whose activities in the country are legal,” he added.
Sinophobia and racism?
Previously, civic leader Teresita Ang See described reports on the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan lean towards “Sinophobia and racism.” After the issue popped up, several lawmakers, including Barbers, supported calls to investigate the issue since Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites are located in the province.
But instead of labeling him and other lawmakers as Sinophobes, Barbers said that the Filipino-Chinese community in the country should actually condemn the illegal actions of “mainlanders,” or those from mainland China.
“I heard that a Chinese association in the Philippines labeled me racist and anti-China. I said I am not, and that it should be you Filipino-Chinese who should speak against bad things being done by mainlander Chinese here in our country. But why are they silent?” Barbers asked.
“Speak against the Chinamen who bring their trash into the Philippines. Speak against those occupying our territory in the West Philippine Sea. They should be commenting on that. They seem to be conspicuously silent about the issue,” he added.
The House committee on dangerous drugs, which Barbers heads, is also probing several Chinese nationals for their alleged ownership of warehouses used to store drugs that were delivered to the Port of Subic—particularly a certain Willie Ong, who owns Empire 999.
Having 2 questionable passports
During the committee’s hearing last June 19, it was revealed that an incorporator of a company allegedly linked to Empire 999 has two passports—a Philippine and a Chinese one.
Henry Bigay, president of local electrical and light company Omni Philippines, was found to have a Filipino birth certificate without his father, Yang Hua Hong, listed in it. Only Bigay’s mother, a certain Maria Luisa Bigay, was listed as his parent, but Bigay admitted to having been raised by his father.
Barbers then asked Bigay how he was able to have Filipino citizenship if he also had a Chinese passport. When Bigay said that he was a dual citizen—using Chinese passports for trips to China and a Philippine passport for other countries—Barbers and members of the committee sought the opinion of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration on the matter.
Some lawmakers present during the hearing drew comparisons to Bigay’s case and that of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who is believed to be a Chinese national.
There have been theories about Guo’s alleged Filipina mother not existing at all, further raising fears that the Mayor is a Chinese spy. Guo denied this, insisting that she is a Filipino.
Recently, the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed that Guo’s fingerprints matched that of the Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.