Senate of the Philippines, Pasay City (PNA file photo by Yancy Lim)
MANILA – Senator Francis Escudero on Thursday asked the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to intensify its scrutiny of foreigners entering the country, following reports of Chinese students in Cagayan allegedly "acting as spies" and engaging in "degree for sale" with local colleges and universities.
Escudero said such accusations should not cause undue alarm without proof.
"Kung ang mga basehan lamang ay dahil may base ang Tsina sa West Philippine Sea, na may isyu tayo ngayon sa kanila kaya malamang espiya ang mga estudyanteng Chinese nationals sa Cagayan kaya dapat ipagbawal ang ang mga iyan, hindi naman siguro dapat ganun (If the only basis is our issue with China who has built bases in the West Philippine Sea, that maybe the Chinese students in Cagayan are spies and they should be banned, that should not be the case),” Escudero said.
He said the BI should be the first agency summoned in a Senate investigation to provide proof, clarify its role and address any lapses in fulfilling its responsibilities.
“Kung talagang may duda na mga espiya ang mga iyan ay bakit hindi ginawa ng Bureau of Immigration ang kanilang trabaho (If there is doubt that the are spies, why did the Bureau of Immigration not do their job)?" he said.
Apart from a resolution filed by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros seeking to investigate the issue, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is also planning to file another, following allegations that the foreign students paid up to PHP2 million for degrees.
Gatchalian called on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to investigate these reports, citing concerns raised by locals and Dr. Chester Cabalza, a professor from the University of the Philippines.
"Bagama’t sinusuportahan natin ang internationalization sa ating mga kolehiyo at pamantasan, pati na rin ang pagpasok ng mga mag-aaral mula sa ibang bansa, mahalagang protektahan natin ang integridad ng ating sistema ng edukasyon (Although we support the internationalization of our colleges and universities, including allowing the entry of foreign students, it is also important that we protect the integrity of our education system)," Gatchalian said.
Earlier, CHED urged Cabalza to formalize his complaint with evidence before it initiates an investigation, ensuring due process to all parties. (PNA)
