SPIES OR LAUNDERERS?: NBI confirms illegal ops of some Chinese in Iloilo City

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City’s lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has confirmed the presence of Chinese nationals allegedly involved in illegal transactions and businesses in the city.

Baronda, who had previously written to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the matter, revealed this in a radio interview.

According to the lawmaker, NBI officials visited her office and provided information on the increasing number of Chinese nationals engaging in illegal activities in the city.

Baronda, however, declined to disclose further details, citing the ongoing verification and investigation by the NBI.

Earlier this July, Baronda urged the DOJ to look into the reported proliferation of Chinese nationals residing in upscale subdivisions in the city, such as Puerto Real de Iloilo in Lapaz, Monterosa Subdivision in Mandurriao, and Ledesco Subdivision in Lapaz.

Daily Guardian has learned from its own sources that some Chinese nationals, through various front personalities and individuals, have been snapping up properties along the Circumferential Road area.

While online gambling and even espionage over the South China Sea dispute are being tagged as the possible reasons for the supposed proliferation of Chinese nationals in the country and Iloilo City, the same sources said their movements are more akin to “money laundering.”

The dilemma faced by security forces, however, is to find out specific violations of the law or crimes that will become the basis for their arrests and deportation.

Meanwhile, City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, in a statement over the weekend, emphasized the importance of adhering to legal procedures when dealing with Chinese nationals suspected of illegal activities.

“If the NBI has indeed confirmed the presence of Chinese nationals involved in such, it is important to work within the bounds of the law to investigate, arrest, and deport them if necessary,” he said.

“Protocols should be followed to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and in accordance with the law,” he added.

The City Council recently approved a resolution ordering a total ban on establishing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the city.

The ban follows the executive order of the city mayor, stating, “It is the declared policy of the city to denounce any illegal POGOs and their activities within the city,” and the committee hearing with the Bureau of Immigration and the Iloilo City Police Office.

“POGOs or Internet Gaming Licensees operating in Iloilo City will inevitably destroy the reputation and dignity of Iloilo City and its people,” read a dispositive part of the resolution.

Police authorities and the city government have since confirmed that no POGOs are operating in the city.