'Extortion and blackmail': DND, DFA slam China's arrest of over 100 Filipinos
The Department of Defense condemned Chinese authorities' arrest of over 100 Filipinos as the Department of Foreign Affairs called on China to fulfill its diplomatic obligation of notifying Philippine Foreign Service Posts of the detention.
On Aug. 10, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun, in reply to a question posed by state-run Global Times, said that "actions have been taken in accordance with the law against over 100 Philippine nationals for illegally working or living in China."
He described the move as consistent with China's efforts to "strengthen supervision of foreigners illegally entering, living, or working in China."
Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro condemned the arrests in a statement. "The action against 100 Filipinos is plain and simple extortion and blackmail. We strongly condemn both the attempt by China to interfere in our law enforcement processes and the blatant blackmail against Filipinos," he wrote.
"The law enforcement efforts against the Chinese nationals that are referred to in a recent report were done on the basis of search warrants issued by the proper courts. The individuals arrested by the authorities were the principals of these illegal enterprises," Teodoro wrote.
"I reiterate that if these Chinese nationals were not involved in defrauding the Filipino people, which is now amplified by the cover-up done by Chinese authorities, then they will be treated in the same way as other law-abiding foreigners residing in the Philippines," the Secretary continued.
Teodoro wrote that Filipinos in China are incapable of breaking Chinese law.
"Filipinos in China have neither the intent nor the capacity to commit violations of Chinese law, much less on the scale perpetuated by Chinese nationals here," he said.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is closely coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Beijing and the Consulates-General "to verify the circumstances of the arrests, ascertain the exact number and status of those apprehended, ensure that due process is observed, and extend consular assistance as needed."
While the DFA acknowledged China's right to implement its immigration laws, the Department also called on Chinese authorities "to safeguard the welfare of the arrested Filipinos."
It also cited the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the 2013 Philippines-China Consular Agreement in reminding the Chinese government of its obligation to promptly notify Manila's Foreign Service Posts of the arrest and detention of the Filipinos.
Both the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the Philippines-China Consular Agreement mandate that in the event of an arrest or detention of a national, the authorities of the arresting state must notify the national's consular post within days—four days, as specified by the Consular Agreement.
During Thursday's joint Senate hearing with the Committees on Economic Affairs, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Ways and Means, and Finance, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Executive Director Benjamin Acorda Jr. spoke of alleged retaliation by Chinese authorities in connection to the Philippine National Police's raid of a steel manufacturing facility in Misamis Oriental in May, which led to the arrest of 69 Chinese nationals.
Acorda said an official from the Chinese Embassy in Manila visited his office following the raid.
"After our conversation, sinabihan po tayo na there is a threat. Huhulihin din ang mga Pilipino sa bansa nila 'pag hindi natin pinakawalan ang mga Chinese workers," Acorda told Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Committee on Economic Affairs.
