Senate detains alleged Chinese smuggler

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December 11, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  The Senate has detained Chinese businessman Shi Chaoqun for supposedly lying about having no government contact in alleged smuggling operations.

Accused of smuggling meat products to Chinese restaurants in Metro Manila, Shi had been arrested for attempting to flee the Philippines.

At the hearing on agricultural smuggling yesterday, senators stressed that Shi’s alleged smuggling operation would not have been possible without the aid of any Filipino associate.

“How did he manage a business in the Bureau of Customs if he did not have a Filipino contact?” Sen. Raffy Tulfo asked.

After Shi denied smuggling and doing business with Customs officials, Sen. Francis Pangilinan cited him in contempt for his “unsatisfactory” explanation.

Pangilinan said the agriculture committee would take custody of Shi, with permission from Immigration Commissioner Anthony Viado.

If proven guilty, Shi will be deported and blacklisted.