BI says 1,500 Chinese nationals got student visas in Cagayan after being 'legally processed'

MANILA -- Around 1,500 Chinese nationals received student visas last year after they were endorsed by a legitimate university in Cagayan, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday.

BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the Chinese students were “legally processed” and had “completed documentation”.

To get student visas, one should be endorsed by his or her school and the Commission on Higher Education.

The list of students is then sent to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation.

"Sila ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tumitingin sa security aspect and investigate kung may makitang cause for concern and thing that might be inimical to the state,” Sandoval told PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

“‘Yung 1,500 natin na nakita doon [sa Cagayan] ay legally processed ‘yan with the complete documentation. Ito ay endorsed ng isang malaking university in Cagayan through the Commission on Higher Education. That’s why we found that the requirements are complete and we were able to issue the appropriate student visa,” she said.

Of the 1,500 Chinese nationals who received student visas last year, only around 400 are on site in Cagayan, based on the information gathered by the BI. The rest are on distance learning.

“The procedure is they would apply for their visa just to initiate or start the program, then babalik na sila sa kanilang bansa. Pupunta lang sila sa Pilipinas kapag mayroong requirements na kailangan isumite, o kaya thesis defense, o kaya naman po ‘yung kanilan graduation,” Sandoval said.

Cagayan Third District Rep. Joseph “Jojo” Lara previously filed a resolution at the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged influx of Chinese students in his province’s schools, describing the development as “highly suspicious and alarming.”

The reported surge in Chinese students in the area comes amid growing tensions between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.

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Cagayan is home to Naval Base Camilo Osias and Lal-lo Airport, which were identified as Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, where the United States military can deploy and preposition personnel, supplies and materiel.

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The BI noted that if the government finds that the Chinese students in Cagayan engage in activities that violate Philippine laws, the bureau can initiate their deportation.

“Halimbawa, they have complete documentation, and their visas have been legally issued, kung may makita naman na ibang activity nila dito sa Pilipinas, halimbawa mga aktibidades na hindi sumusunod or hindi alinsunod sa mga batas ng Pilipinas, then we can initiate a deportation,” Sandoval said.

“’Yan naman ay priority natin, once ma-determine halimbawa ng isang government agency, maybe NICA, NBI or other government agency na may violation ‘yan, they usually file cases sa ating mga korte, and at the same time, we could always add ‘yung deportation charge against the foreign national… Pinapalabas natin ‘yan ng bansa, pinapaalis natin, and we include them on the blacklist,” she added.

Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa on Friday said government should investigate the reported influx of Chinese students in Cagayan, given the location of an EDCA site in the province.

"Normal yan na magdududa tayo. At para maibsan yung ating pagdududa, dapat maimbestigahan talaga para hindi tayo, hindi tayo magising na lang na wala na, too late the hero. Dapat habang ngayon maaga pa mag-conduct na ng investigation ang gobyerno,” he said.

Asked if spying could be a possible motive of the Chinese in Cagayan, Dela Rosa said, “Malaking posibilidad yan."

PH, US officials visit EDCA sites in Cagayan, Pampanga