Teodoro calls China’s move vs 100 Filipinos ‘blackmail’ – BusinessWorld Online
PHILIPPINE Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. on Thursday accused China of “blackmail” after Beijing said it had taken measures against more than 100 Filipinos over alleged illegal employment and residence, calling the move an attempt to interfere in Philippine law enforcement.
“The action against 100 Filipinos is plain and simple extortion and blackmail,” Mr. Teodoro said in a statement. “We strongly condemn both the attempt by China to interfere in our law enforcement processes and the blatant blackmail against Filipinos.”
China earlier said it had taken “law-based action” against more than 100 Philippine nationals over alleged illegal employment and illegal residence in China, according to a China Daily report on Monday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the measures were part of routine operations to supervise foreigners who illegally enter, reside or work in China.
Mr. Teodoro defended the recent arrests of Chinese nationals by Philippine authorities, saying they were apprehended through search warrants issued by the proper courts and identified as principals of illegal enterprises.
He said Chinese authorities’ focus on the suspects’ work visas and passports, rather than their alleged illegal activities, effectively acknowledged that the acts violated Philippine law.
“Chinese authorities stress the issue of the work visas and passports of these individuals while refusing to address the illegal activities that they perpetuated,” he said.
Mr. Teodoro also accused the Chinese government of protecting the arrested Chinese nationals, saying this indicated complicity in their alleged activities.
“The fact that the Chinese government is actively covering up for these individuals is the best evidence of their complicity in the nefarious acts of these people,” he said.
He rejected comparisons between the cases, saying Filipinos in China had neither the intent nor capacity to commit violations of Chinese law “in the scale perpetuated by Chinese nationals here.”
Mr. Teodoro said Chinese nationals who are not involved in defrauding Filipinos would be treated in the same manner as other law-abiding foreigners residing in the Philippines.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment. — Pexcel John Bacon