(Eagle News)–The Palace on Monday, Aug. 19, dismissed Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua’s remark Overseas Filipino Workers in China could also be accused of spying.
Zhao issued the remark after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expressed concerns about the proximity of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations hubs to military facilities, saying the Chinese nationals employed there could easily shift to spying.
“The Office of the President shares the sentiment of Secretary Lorenzana and (Socioeconomic) Secretary (Ernesto) Pernia when they said that the OFWs went to China for the purpose of work,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
According to Panelo, “moreover there is no place where (OFWs) converge to work” unlike Pogo workers who are in hubs near military facilities, just like what Lorenzana said.
“Gaya ng paliwanag ni Secretary Lorenzana at Secretary Pernia, eh wala namang lugar iyong overseas workers, nagkalat naman siya sa buong Hong Kong and China di ba,” Panelo said.
Earlier, Lorenzana dubbed as “preposterous” Zhao’s remark on OFWs, and reiterated his proposal to move Pogo sites to eco-zones away from military camps.
The Palace has said the military, however, had the capability of monitoring the activities of the Chinese in Pogos.
