The surge of Chinese nationals linked to agricultural smuggling in the country alarmed two senators on Wednesday.
The extent of their involvement in the smuggling of agricultural products was highlighted by Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan at the resumption of the hearing of the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform.
According to the panel chairman, the past hearings of the committee have already exposed how agricultural smuggling was cornered by Chinese nationals, in connivance with local businessmen and erring government officials.
‘Mayroong circumstantial evidence na sinasamantala nga ng mga sindikatong base sa China ang corruption sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan,’ Pangilinan said.
(There is circumstantial evidence that syndicates based in China are indeed exploiting corruption in government agencies.)
From the gaming industry, Sen. Erwin Tulfo also observed the sudden shift of a number of Chinese nationals to the power industry and now to the importation industry.
‘I know they are investing in our company pero di ba medyo nakakapagtaka suddenly may upsurge tapos yung iba involved pa sa illegal activity? Mabuti sana kung legitimate yung activity,’ Tulfo later said in the hearing.
(I know they are investing in our company, but isn’t it a bit suspicious that there’s suddenly an upsurge, and some of them are even involved in illegal activities? It would be good if their activities were legitimate.)
The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica) confirmed receiving the same reports when asked by the senator if they are aware that many Chinese nationals have already taken control of the local power and importation businesses.
In fact, the agency has been tasked to conduct investment screenings before permits are issued to importers, according to Nica Assistant Director General for Counterintelligence Dennis Godfrey Gammad.
‘We signed a memorandum of agreement together with other departments that Nica will conduct investment screenings.’ Gammad said. ‘Before they issue permit, Nica is the one vetting the company.’
But Tulfo wants the intelligence community to be more aggressive in looking into the presence of Chinese entities in the country.
‘Kasi baka isang araw, pag gising natin e lahat na ho ng negosyo natin e controlled na ho ng kapitbahay ho natin. Wala na hong matitira naman,’ he said.
(We might wake up one day with all of our businesses controlled by our neighbors. There won’t be anything left for us.)
‘Baka mamaya isang araw pati mga farmers natin e puro mga Chinese nationals na ho, wala na ho yung mga Filipino. Sila na magte-take over. This is not really good,’ the senator added.
(Maybe one day, even our farmers will all be Chinese nationals, and there won’t be any Filipinos left. They will take over. This isn’t really good.)