(Eagle News) – Malacanang will be considering the proposal of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., to put an end to the practice of giving visa upon arrival to Chinese nationals that was first implemented in August 2017.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that he himself agreed with the position of Secretary Locsin that foreigners entering the country should be properly vetted.
“I agree with Secretary Locsin. Kailangan talaga bini-vet, kasi kapag tayo humihingi ng visa, nahihirapan din tayong kumuha ng visa sa mga iba’t ibang bansa eh because they vet – tinitingnan muna nila,” Panelo said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday, August 1.
Panelo said that putting an end to the practice of “visa upon arrival” for some foreign nationals who are entering the country will be the call of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“The President will consider the proposal of the Secretary. And if we don’t hear anything from him, it means that will be the policy of the government,” he said.
-Panelo: “We should be concerned-
Panelo said that numerous undocumented workers from China are able to enter the country is worrisome.
“Hindi lamang iyong volume, pati siyempre iyong—ang importante diyan ay paano nakakapasok iyan nang hindi natin nalalaman? Iyon ang mas delikado doon,” he said.
“They are undocumented, then we should really raise concern about them. Paano sila nakakapasok dito?”
Panelo also agreed with the view of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., that the huge number of undocumented Chinese nationals entering the country is a possible threat to the country’s security.
“Yes, he considers that as a threat. There are military vessels passing through our territory, even if it’s innocently done by them – innocent passage – if they’re not even telling us then we should be concerned,” he said.
But Panelo said that the Philippine government can easily expel illegal foreign workers in the country, or those who violate the country’s immigration laws.
He said that the Bureau of Immigration should look into this.
It was in August 2017, that the Bureau of Immigration first started the issuance of visas upon arrival for qualified Chinese nationals, including members of tour groups, businessmen, athletes, and convention delegates.
This was reportedly in compliance with a Department of Justice (DOJ) circular which ordered the grant of visa upon arrival (VUA) to Chinese nationals.
The department circular no. 41 was signed by then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.