CAGAYAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES — Tuguegarao City’s Mayor voiced concern on Saturday over what she called a “racist and politicized” issue involving the province’s alleged growing number of Chinese students. 

“Ano po ba ang mali sa’min? Ano po ang mali sa Tuguegarao? Hindi ba puwede mag stay dito ang mga Chinese? Hindi ba puwede mag stay ang mga tao na gusto lang magkaron ng maayos na pagaaral?” asked Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que at the Pandesal Forum. 

The Mayor expressed her sentiments days after Cagayan 3rd District Representative Joseph “Jojo” Lara sought a House inquiry. 

Lara reports that 4,600 Chinese students in a private university wear student IDs. He also claimed that their presence could put the country’s security at risk amid China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Tuguegarao’s Mayor, however, maintained that nothing irregular happened in the province. 

“4,600 daw, eh wala naman pong 4,600… Nakakasama lang po talaga ng loob. ‘Yan po pala tingin niyo sa amin sa Tuguegarao… ‘Yan pala ang tingin niyo sa mga eskuwelahan,” Que said. 

The Mayor also emphasized that they are “very disappointed in the racial undertones that it has taken on.”

Previously, Lara said, “There is nothing wrong with having foreigners,” but added that national security should not be “sacrificed.”

“We just want to know why. We are not against having international students, but we fear we have an issue with China. If there are 4,600 Chinese students in one private university and the private university even admits it, it is alarming,” Lara said.

“Meron tayo d’yan how they got to the Philippines in the first place, ‘yung legality ng pagpasok nila dito sa bansa natin. Do they have the necessary papers? Sabi nga, estudyante ‘to, so meron ba silang student visa that are required,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) had said that the presence of Chinese students in Cagayan was valid and with basis and that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) had invited them. 

Sources:(1),(2),(3)

Keep Reading: AFP monitor the rise in Chinese students in Cagayan province