Rep. Robert Ace Barbers. INQUIRER file photo / VINCENT F. NONATO
MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has called on the House of Representatives to conduct an investigation on the recruitment of Chinese nationals into the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) auxiliary corps, and unmask the officials behind this.
Barbers, in a statement, called the officials responsible for the tapping of Chinese nationals to the auxiliary corps as a modern ‘Makapili’ — referring to Filipino collaborators who aided Japanese forces during Japan’s occupation of the Philippines.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan told a House panel last March 20 that PCG previously recruited Chinese nationals to the auxiliary force — a voluntary, uniformed, non-government organization attached to PCG, where members assist in promoting maritime safety, environment protection, and other activities.
READ: House hearing reveals Chinese nationals recruited to PCG auxiliary
“Nuong panahon ng Hapon sa Pilipinas, meron tayong mga Makapili. Ngayon, meron na rin umano tayong mga Makabagong Makapili na nagsisilbi sa interes ng China sa ating bansa. Panahon na para imbestigahan at kilalanin ang umano’y mga walang kunsensya at taksil sa bayan na mga ito,” Barbers said on Sunday.
(During the time of the Japanese here in the Philippines, we had the Makapili. Now, we also have modern Makapilis who serve the interests of China in our country. It is time that we investigate and know who these conscienceless traitors are.)
According to Barbers, there are a lot of questions that need answers like if the PCG conducted due diligence on the Chinese nationals, considering that they were with the auxiliary corps for three years.
He also feared that some of the Chinese nationals may actually be members of China’s military or tourists and businesspeople looking to lengthen their stay in the Philippines.
READ: Accountability sought over PCG recruitment of Chinese auxiliary members
“The Chinese nationals are with the PCGA for more or less three years. Did the PCG conduct due diligence on these nationals? Obviously, there’s none,” the lawmaker said.
“As Admiral Gavan has admitted, some 36 were axed because they failed to secure national security clearance. We also do not know if those Chinese nationals are officials from the China People’s Liberation Army, businessmen, or tourists out to justify their longer stay here in our country,” he added.
During Barbers’ interpellation of Commandant Gavan at the hearing, the PCG chief said they have coordinated with national security agencies and intelligence bodies to check if the members of the auxiliary corps were compliant with the agency’s standards.
Gavan said 36 Chinese nationals who have been serving three years before December 2023 were delisted already.
“We have checked their compliance with our standard set and found that they did not comply. So we initiated their delisting, and they were delisted,” Gavan disclosed.
Gavan’s admission sparked scrutiny from different sectors like the House, as Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre asked that officials behind the recruitment should be held accountable.
Barbers said that the government should scrutinize the tasks and other activities delegated to the delisted Chinese auxiliary corps members, starting from the day they were recruited and admitted until they were removed from the force, as such actions may have adversely affected the country’s national security.
“Sa mahigit na tatlong (3) taon na sila ay nakapaloob sa PCG, malamang ay may mga kasama itong espiyang Chinese military at inalam na nila lahat ang mga istratehiya, missions and objectives, communications gadgets, at duties and functions ng lahat ng opisyal ng PCG, at iba pa,” Barbers said.
(In over three years that they are embedded with the PCG, it’s highly likely that there are Chinese spies involved, and they analyzed the strategies, missions and objectives, communications gadgets, and duties and functions of all PCG officials.)
“Kung iisipin, grabe ang nagawang kawalanghiyaan sa PCG at dapat panagutin sa batas kung bakit nila pinayagan ito,” he added.
(If you’ll think of it, the bastardization of PCG is too much and people who allowed this should be held accountable.)
PCG is at the country’s forefront in terms of securing maritime zones — which is why the agency is usually involved in incidents over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) — huge parts of which are claimed by China.
PCG vessels have been targeted by their Chinese counterparts in recent months when the agency assists in resupply missions done by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to troops in BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine Navy vessel deliberately ran aground in the Ayungin Shoal.
There were instances where PCG vessels were targeted with military-grade laser, water cannons, and even hit by Chinese Coast Guard ships in the area. China insists that Ayungin is part of their territory, claiming that a former Philippine president promised to remove BRP Sierra Madre from the shoal.