Mar Roxas: PH should stop issuing 'automatic' visas to Chinese

Senatorial candidate Mar Roxas / photo from ABS CBN

Opposition senatorial bet Mar Roxas said on Monday, April 22, that government should stop automatic granting of visas to Chinese nationals entering in the country.

In an interview during a campaign sortie in Catarman, the former Interior secretary cited that some Chinese nationals working at a local construction site.


“Wala nang control, automatic visa yung mga Chinese workers na aagawin ang mga trabaho na kaya naman gawin ng mga Pilipino, nasa construction 'di ba?" Roxas said

"Ano ang special na kakayahan ng Chinese na hindi kaya ng Pilipino pagdating sa construction, sa pagiging karpentero, pagiging mason?” he said

Roxas, who was a former Trade Secretary under the administration of Gloria Arroyo, said that government should strictly monitor activities of Chinese who arrive in the Philippines.

"Eh para sa akin itigil na yan automatic visa granting, itigil yan at bilangin natin, ilan na ba silang nakapasok dito, saan sila nagtatrabaho, at nagbabayad ba sila ng tamang buwis tulad ng mga Pilipino, dapat monitored," he said

According to the Bureau of Immigration website, visas-upon-arrival are granted to foreign businessmen endorsed by local or international commerce chambers; athletes; participants in international conferences; and investors involved in bilateral agreements.

Source: Politiko