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Mark Ernest Villeza - The Philippine Star
April 4, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday assured the public that it remains committed to protecting both locals and foreign nationals in the country, following a security advisory issued by the Chinese embassy regarding alleged threats against its citizens in the Philippines.
PNP public information office chief Col. Randulf Tuaño said the police force respects the right of foreign governments to issue advisories but maintained that law enforcement efforts apply to all individuals, regardless of nationality.
“We understand the advisories issued by different countries regarding their citizens. We respect their concerns, but the PNP is mandated to serve and protect. This means that everyone in the Philippines, whether local or foreign, is under the protection of the PNP,” Tuaño said during a press briefing at Camp Crame.
He dismissed claims that Chinese nationals are being singled out, saying the PNP enforces the law equally.
“There are no reports of such incidents. The PNP will protect the interests of the Philippines, and anyone, local or foreign, who violates the law will be held accountable,” he said.
The PNP’s statement was in response to the Chinese embassy’s Tuesday advisory that warned its citizens to take extra security precautions when traveling to the country, claiming that Philippine law enforcement agencies have frequently interrogated and harassed Chinese nationals and businesses.
The embassy’s statement comes amid ongoing scrutiny of illegal activities allegedly linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and other criminal enterprises.
The embassy’s warning also comes in the wake of a recent espionage case involving Chinese nationals, which has raised concerns about national security.
Nothing suspicious
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) did not monitor any suspicious activity from Chinese fisheries research ship Song Hang, which sailed into the Philippines’ archipelagic waters, with its crew claiming they were on the way to the Indian Ocean to “catch fish.”
Song Hang – said to be the “first ocean-going research vessel of China’s fisheries ministry launched in 2017” – was last detected at 42.6 nautical miles off the coast of Bongao in southernmost province Tawi-Tawi at 11 a.m. last April 3, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman on West Philippine Sea issues, reported.
Originating from Shanghai in China, the ship navigated close to the edge of the western side of Luzon and entered the Mindoro Strait, and was last spotted at 58 nautical miles off the coast of Aborlan in Palawan on April 2, he added.
While it did not respond to radio challenges from PCG’s aircraft last April 2, the crew onboard Song Hang answered the radio challenges from PCG’s 44-meter patrol vessel BRP Malapascua on April 3.
Song Hang was operated by its captain Liu Zei Ling and 25 Chinese nationals, noted Tarriela. The Chinese research vessel did not stop sailing, with speeds between 10 to 40 nautical miles, hence it was “navigating continuously and expeditiously,” he said. – Ghio Ong
