The presence of Chinese militia at an exclusive village in Parañaque City has been proven false, according to he Southern Police District (SPD), citing its investigation. Photo from the official Facebook page of the SPD HQ
MANILA, Philippines — The presence of Chinese militia at an exclusive village in Parañaque City has been proven false, police said, citing its investigation.
The Southern Police District (SPD) said it carried out a validation process of reports that many foreign nationals suspected to be Chinese militias have been observed in the village, which name authorities did not disclose.
“Contrary to claims made in a recent news article, the initial findings of the validation suggest that the concerns raised may not be as substantial as initially portrayed,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
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“Claims regarding the presence of Chinese nationals displaying military-like behavior were refuted. Interviews with local authorities revealed that individuals observed jogging within the village, who may have been mistaken for military personnel, were, in fact, members of the village security,” it added.
However, the SPD revealed that its investigation found that Chinese nationals residing in the exclusive village increased and that the rise “coincided with” the introduction of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
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Still, the SPD stressed, it recognizes concerns regarding the potential presence of Chinese “sleeper” agents. It promised to carry out further investigation and validation “to substantiate these claims.”
The SPD gave assurance that village residents are safe and secure. Police encouraged them to continue reporting any suspicious activity to authorities.