PAOCC probes report Chinese nationals buying lands in Central Luzon
FILE PHOTO: PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz holds a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City on October 10, 2023. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino
MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is investigating reports that Chinese nationals are buying farmlands in Central Luzon.
PAOCC chief Gilbert Cruz on Friday revealed receiving information that the Chinese nationals either rent or purchase properties and even pay as much as P90,000 per hectare for lots.
“Meron po kaming iniimbestigahan dito po sa parte ng Central Luzon may mga nabili silang lupa,” Cruz said over radio dwPM.
(We are investigating here in Central Luzon that they were buying plots of land.)
“May mga nabili silang lupa. ‘Yung iba naman po, ang balita namin, sa report na natatanggap namin, nagbabayad po sila ng P80,000 to P90,000 kada ektarya po sa mga bukirin po,” Cruz also said.
Article continues after this advertisement(They have purchased land, while others, based on reports we got, are paying P80,000 to P90,000 per hectare in farms.)
Article continues after this advertisement“Imbis na magtanim po ang mga magsasaka, nagbabayad na lang po ang mga Chinese. Inuupahan nila at sila na ang didiskarte kung anong gagawin nila sa lupa mo kung tataniman nila o kung ano man ang balak nila,” he continued.
(Instead of farmers planting, the Chinese are just paying rent to them, and it’s up to the Chinese as to what they will do to the land, if they will plant crops, or whatever their plans are.)
READ: Chinese engage in creeping invasion of PH via land purchases, says Barbers
According to Cruz, this must be investigated because it presents possible problems in the future, notably in the control of local farms.
“Ang titingnan natin dito kapag in-allow po natin ang ganyang modus operandi baka makontrol na po nila ang mga taniman natin at tayo ang magkaproblema,” he further stressed.
(We see that if we allow this modus operandi, they might control our farmlands and lead to problems for us.)
Cruz’s revelation followed recent government raids of facilities run by Philippine offshore gaming operators involving Chinese nationals.
READ: PAOCC finds an illegal Pogo still operating near Senate
An illegal Pogo located near the Senate building in Pasay City was discovered during an operation conducted by government agents on Thursday, October 3.
The latest raid is part of a nationwide crackdown that led to the closure of Pogo hubs in Porac, Pampanga, and Bamban, Tarlac.
