Duterte: Let Chinese nationals work in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Let the Chinese nationals work here in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has said.

During his speech at the campaign rally of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Laguna, Duterte said that it should be considered that there are also thousands of Filipino workers in China when talking of the number of Chinese nationals who work in the country.

“Iyong mga Chinese dito, hayaan mo ‘yan na dito magtrabaho. Hayaan mo.  Bakit? We have 300,000 Filipinos in China. Kaya hindi ako maka — sabihin, o umalis kayo dito, deport ka doon. Eh kung bigla paalisin ‘yun doon 300 [thousand] of them?” he said.

LOOK: Chinese woman throws taho at cop detailed at MRT

Duterte’s statement came following issues on the influx of Chinese workers in the country.

Earlier, the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development resumed its probe on the influx of Chinese illegal workers in the country recent incidents involving Chinese nationals including that of a woman who threw “taho” at a police officer at MRT-3, and a man who allegedly molested three women at an amusement park in Pasay City.

READ: Chinese man arrested for molesting 3 women in Pasay theme park

The inquiry, which was first held last Nov. 26, was prompted when 93 Chinese nationals were arrested in an illegal gambling center in Pasig City. /je