A LAWMAKER from Mindanao today urged Malacanang to also order the investigation on the alleged granting of lease to operate to at least 85 Chinese-owned firms by certain local government units (LGUs) in the coastal towns of Bataan, Zambales and Pangasinan for still unknown businesses that has deprived local fisherfolks of their livelihood.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, lead chair of the Lower House’s Quad Committee and chair of the House’s Dangerous Drugs panel, said he has received reliable information from some fishermen in said areas on the suspicious activities of the Chinese-owned firms.
The solon from Surigao del Norte made the call after the Palace on Monday ordered an investigation on allegations that arrested Chinese spies – Wang Ingyi, Wu Jaren, Cai Shaohuang and Chen Haitao – donated 10 Chinese-made motorcycles worth around US$2,500 or P144,800 each to the Manila Police.
Wang, according to reports, also had been seen in a Shandong ACFROC social media post in July 2022 of handing over a P500,000 check labeled as a “poverty alleviation bursary” to the mayor of Tarlac City and the local police force.
Barbers said it now seems apparent that the “Chinese spies-invaders” have adopted the same illegal business patterns of the banned POGO operators in the country, befriending and reportedly corrupting certain law enforcement and local government officials, to allow their unhampered nefarious activities in their localities.
Aside from ordering a probe on Chinese spy donations in Manila, the solon from Mindanao also urged the Palace to also dig into the legal basis and protocols used by LGUs along the coastal towns of Zambales, Bataan and Pangasinan in granting the lease to Chinese firms of what supposed to be are government properties along shorelines and agricultural lands to the Chinese-owned firms in their respective localities.
“According to one of my fishermen-sources, halos lahat ng mangingisda sa mga shorelines na pinaupahan na sa mga Chinese nationals ay nawawalan na ng hanap-buhay dahil itinataboy at di sila pinapadaan sa mga pinaupahan na mga shorelines,” Barbers said.
“If indeed these more than 80 Chinese firms were allowed to lease, operate and “exploit” properties in those coastal towns, who or what government agencies, aside from the LGUs, have allowed them to operate and what type of businesses they are engaged in?” he asked.
Barbers said there are also reports about the presence for almost three months now of two Chinese-owned ships in the waters off two barangay coastal villages of Palauig town in Zambales whose activity cannot be determined because the local Coast Guard and other concerned agencies are either just standing by or keeping a “blind eye” on their presence and activities.
“These ships could be engaged in dredging activities, mining, smuggling and possibly drug smuggling. But the concerned law enforcement agencies are doing nothing about them.
Mukhang natutulog sa pancitan o bayad na siguro ang mga lokal na ahente ng Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Immigration, the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, LGUs, at iba pa sa mga nasabing lugar,” he lamented.
Barbers said the more than 80 Chinese-owned firms granted lease agreements in Zambales, Bataan and Pangasinan could be or more likely be employing Chinese soldiers and spies to carry out their missions unhampered in said areas, similar to what they were doing in Palawan, certain parts of Cagayan, in Catanduanes and other parts of the country.
“Nakakalungkot at nakakapuyos ng damdamin na malaman na marami na sa ating mga lokal na negosyante, law enforcers at mga politiko ay nabayaran o nabili na ng mga dayuhan at ipinagpalit na sa salapi ang kanilang pagka-tao at pagka-Filipino,” Barbers concluded.
