Senator Richard Gordon said that the Duterte administration’s treatment to China is the possible reason why many Chinese chose to perform their illegal activities in the Philippines like money laundering.
During a senate hearing on Wednesday, Gordon said that the current administration is “too soft on China” that’s why they’re brave to break the law in the Philippines.
He even suspected that President Rodrigo Duterte is aware of the illegal activities being committed by the Chinese.
“I think there’s a patina of doubt na because malapit nga si Presidente sa China baka mayroon silang mga secret negotiations on this matter… baka lang mayroon silang usapan na hindi namin nalalaman,” Gordon said.
“Tolerance is tolerance. Take it for what the word means. Hindi mo pinapahuli, eh ‘di may tolerance. Nagsumbong na sa iyo ‘yung Customs, hindi pa rin gumalaw ‘yung AMLC [Anti-Money Laundering Council],” he added.
During his privilege speech, Gordon also showed video footage showing how the Chinese workers in the Philippines affected the Filipinos living at high-end subdivisions in Paranaque.
“It’s a very organized operation—hiring buses, hiring cars, hiring vans, getting homes. Kumpleto talaga, mas organized pa sa gobyerno,” he said.
“Seventy percent of this subdivision is now occupied. Mind you, this is not a humble subdivision, it is an upper middle class,” he added.
He even said that Chinese Nationals are already swarming the country and some of them might be entering the Philippines illegally.
“It’s a creeping invasion… I’m not being Sinophobic. I’m just trying to express some concern on why there is no seeming regulation and effort to locate these people. If they have firearms, aba delikado ‘yan, if they’re bringing in money hinahanap ba natin ‘yung pera kung saan dinala?” Gordon said.
“This is just Manila. They come in to Clark, Cebu, Davao, they go everywhere. I just want to raise the alarm bells. This is just Manila, we don’t know what’s going on in other areas and that’s why we really have to find out what’s going on,” he added.
Gordon already cautioned the government on social media about the possible dangers being brought by the Chinese POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations) workers.
“Pinili ng Tsino na mag setup ng #POGOs dito sa Pilipinas kasi madali makapasok sa mga airport natin at laong nas madali kausapin yung gobyerno natin,” said Gordon on Twitter.
“The #POGO situation is a question of policy. Do we want POGO or not? Do we want to regulate POGO or kick them out?” he added.