By Junex Doronio

MANILA — With the recent arrest in Palawan of four Chinese nationals who were allegedly behind fraudulently acquired government identification cards (IDs), authorities are now eyeing a possible “silent Chinese invasion” in the Philippines.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that last year, there were at least 10 incidents of arrests involving foreigners who presented authentic Philippine IDs.

“These foreign nationals use Philippine documents to avoid inspection, buy property, or even interfere in politics,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco revealed.

In a statement, BI intelligence division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. identified the four suspects as Wang Tao, Li Xiaoming, Guo Zhi Yang and Lyu Zhiyang, who were arrested in Brgy. San Pedro, Puerto Princess City, Palawan.

Manahan Jr. said Lyu, also known as Ken Garcia Lee, was allegedly the operation’s mastermind and earned notoriety in the local community after being tagged as the group’s leader in Palawan.

Lyu allegedly heads the local syndicate providing illegally obtained government-issued documents to undesirable aliens and trafficking victims.

It was gathered that several identification cards issued by the Philippine government such as drivers’ licenses, postal IDs, and birth certificates were found and seized from the suspects.

The successful apprehension of the suspects was coordinated with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the BI bared.

“The arresting team of the operation have been working on the case for several months and have kept close coordination with intelligence forces and law enforcement agents to ensure the smooth arrest of the subjects,” Manahan Jr. further said.

Tansingco also reiterated his call to local government units (LGUs) to report to the BI cases of foreign nationals conducting illegal activities in their areas such as identity fraud.

(el Amigo/MNM)

MANILA — The joint efforts of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Women and Children Protection Center culminated on Thursday (14 Dec 2023) in the deportation of 180 Chinese Nationals to China via Philippine Airlines.

A delegation of around 10 Filipino officials accompanied the deportation, escorting the apprehended individuals to Shanghai, China.

The targeted deportation is a crucial step in the extensive crackdown by local authorities against illegal activities conducted by foreign nationals in the country.

These individuals were involved in a range of criminal activities, including online scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnapping for ransom, and prostitution.

The roots of this significant operation trace back to October 27, 2023, when a joint force led by agents from the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) conducted a raid at the Smart Web Technology POGO Hub in Pasay City.

The ensuing inspection revealed an alarming setup featuring aquarium-style viewing (sex) chambers catering to women of various nationalities, including Filipinas, serving predominantly Chinese nationals seeking such services.

The undesirable aliens, including Chinese Nationals, some of whom are fugitives from Mainland China, were apprehended, handcuffed, and subsequently transported onto buses for deportation.

(Report and photography by Benjamin Cuaresma/AI/MNM)

MANILA — On early Sunday (10 Dec 2023), a Philippine resupply vessel, Unaiza May 1, collided with a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship, identified as CCG 21556, during a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

The incident, which occurred at 6:39 a.m., was confirmed by United States-based security expert Ray Powell, who monitored the situation using the automatic information system.

Despite the collision, the Philippine government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident.

This collision took place just a day after CCG ships deployed water cannons against three Philippine vessels near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.

The three vessels were en route to provide oil subsidies and groceries to Filipino fishing vessels.

Tensions in the region remain high as maritime incidents between Philippine and Chinese vessels continue to escalate.

(AI/MNM)

HANGZHOU – Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio failed to repeat against rival Lin Yu Ting of Chinese Taipei and made an early exit in the 19th Asian Games Friday at the Hangzhou gymnasium.

Lin used her height and reach advantage to keep at bay her Filipina adversary on the way to pulling off a 4-1 decision, and a place in the quarterfinals of the women’s 57-kg class.

Two years ago, Petecio, 31, took the measure out of the 5-foot-9 Chinese Taipei fighter by beating her, 3-2, in the Round of 16 of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the native of Davao Del Sur won a silver medal.

This time, it wasn’t meant to be.

“Nag-unahan kami kung sino ang makakakuha ng saktong style. At naunahan niya talaga ako,” said Petecio, who was humble in defeat.

The loss denied Petecio her first shot at clinching a return ticket to the Olympics set in Paris next year as the quadrennial showcase serves as a qualifier to the Olympiad.

Now she has to go through and compete in the World Championship in the hopes of making it in the Paris Games and complete what had been an unfinished business for her.

“Hindi pa tayo tapos,” Petecio vowed.

Petecio’s exit also ended the women’s team campaign in the Asiad, leaving the men’s team – now down to just three fighters – to carry the fight in a bid to win Philippine boxing’s first gold medal since the 2010 edition of the quadrennial meet in Guangzhou, China.

Other than Petecio, those who failed to advance include her fellow Olympian Irish Magno, Aira Villegas, Aaron Jude Bado, Mark Ashley Fajardo, and Marjon Pianar.

(ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

THE PHILIPPINES’ LONGTIME ALLY and the world’s prime superpower United States of America has commended the brave act of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in removing the floating barrier in Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

The floating barrier was installed last week by the China Coast Guard and prevented Filipino fishermen from operating in the international common fishing ground.

Describing the removal of the floating barrier installed by CCG as “a bold step in defending their own sovereignty” on the part of the Philippines, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford also reaffirmed Washington’s security commitments to its Asian ally during a congressional hearing on Thursday (Friday in the Philippines).

“The department has been incredibly clear that when it comes to our treaty commitments to the Philippines, we believe an armed attack against the Philippine Armed Forces, public vessels, and aircraft, apply to the South China Sea. That includes the Philippine Coast Guard,” Ford told a House of Representatives subcommittee on foreign affairs.

On Monday, September 25, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) removed the floating barrier put up by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) following the order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año.

Notably, even retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio who once led the “anti-Marcos” 1Sambayan opposition coalition in 2022 is now supporting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s move to strengthen the country’s alliances with other states amid China’s moves in the West Philippine Sea.

The Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, is 198 kilometers west of Subic Bay in Zambales province, thus part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), although China claims it otherwise.

“The 2016 Arbitral Award has affirmed that BDM is the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen. Thus, any obstruction hindering the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk in the shoal violates international law. It also infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty over BDM,” PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela earlier maintained.

Unfortunately, China refuses to honor the 2016 Arbitral Ruling up to this very day and has been making efforts to block supply ships from the Philippine Navy right inside territorial waters in the WPS several times recently.

(ai/mnm)

HANGZHOU – A long-time rival awaits Nesthy Petecio at the other end of the ring Friday when she finally makes her debut in the 19th Asian Games.

The Tokyo Olympic silver medal winner faces top seed Lin Yu Ting of Chinese Taipei in an early clash between the top contenders in the women’s 57 kg class.

The winner in the 3 p.m. match at the Hangzhou gymnasium will book a berth into the quarterfinals.

“Dito na magkaka-alaman,” said national coach Ronald Chavez of the highly-anticipated bout.

Petecio, 32, previously took the measure out of Lin during the Round of 16 of the Tokyo Olympiad, when the Filipina won their tightly-fought match by the skin of her teeth, 3-2, on her way to making the finals, where she eventually lost to gold medalist Sena Irie of Japan.

But the Asiad is an entirely new episode on the rivalry of the two.

Whereas Lin already had a bronze medal tucked under her belt which she won during the 2018 edition of the quadrennial meet in Palembang while still fighting at 51 kg class, the Asiad is the only one lacking in Petecio’s trophy case.

“Lagi lang akong quarterfinals,” she said of the two previous stints she had in 2018 and 2014 (Incheon, South Korea), respectively.

“(Kaya) sobrang challenging ito sa akin.”

Petecio, also a gold medal winner in the 2019 World Championship, will be the last of the nine-man boxing team to see action for the first time heading to the weekend, where the quarterfinals and semifinals are going to be held.

Heavyweight John Marvin was the latest Filipino fighter to advance after scoring a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) against Rabin of Nepal late Wednesday night. He joins Olympic medalists Carlo Paalam and Eumir Felix Marcial in the next round as they try to give Philippine boxing its first Asiad gold since Rey Saludar (flyweight) in the 2010 edition in Guangzhou, China.

Marjon Pianar is fighting 2023 World Championship gold medalist Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev of Uzbekistan in the Round of 16 of the men’s 71 kg class as of press time for a berth in the quarterfinals.

Somnuek Thananya of Thailand meanwhile, won by walkover against Rizza Pasuit, who was not with the Philippine boxing team here but was listed by Asiad organizers on the meet’s official website. (ai.mnm)

By Junex Doronio

“When you’re weak, pretend that you’re strong.” — Sun Tzu

APPARENTLY APPLYING THE “ART OF WAR” by military genius Sun Tzu, China just laughed at the removal by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) of the floating barrier installed by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) in Scarborough Shoal following the marching order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año.

“What the Philippines did looks like nothing more than self-amusement,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a press conference on Wednesday, September 27.

Wang issued the statement when asked if it’s true that China removed the remnants of its floating barrier from the shoal as reported by the PCG and if China’s position on its claim over Scarborough Shoal has somehow changed.

“I would like to reiterate that Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) has always been China’s territory… China will continue to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests over Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal),” he maintained.

Earlier, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said, “The decisive action of the PCG to remove the barrier aligns with international law and the Philippines’ sovereignty over the shoal.”

BDM or Scarborough Shoal, located 229.6 kilometers (124 nautical miles) away from Zambales province, is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is considered one of the traditional fishing grounds for Filipinos.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defines an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as generally extending 200 nautical miles from shore, within which the coastal state has the right to explore and exploit, and the responsibility to conserve and manage, both living and non-living resources.

“The 2016 Arbitral Award has affirmed that BDM is the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen. Thus, any obstruction hindering the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk in the shoal violates international law. It also infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty over BDM,” Tarriela pointed out. (ai/mnm)