MANILA – The Palace on Thursday advised Chinese nationals, who allegedly suffered abuse while working in the country, to file complaints before local authorities.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the suggestion after the Chinese Embassy in Manila urged the Philippine government to punish casinos and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) that illegally employ Chinese workers.
“They should file formal complaints so that this particular concern will be raised in the appropriate agencies of the government so we can properly respond,” Panelo said.
The Chinese Embassy in the country said some Chinese workers have their passports taken away by their employers while others were subjected to extortion, physical abuse, torture, and other ill-treatments.
“If you’ll restrict their liberties, then there might be a violation because if your only reason is rudeness, you can always subject them to violations under the Revised Penal Code,” Panelo said.
“We will not allow any violation of (foreign nationals) rights as visitors or working nationals in the country,” he added. “Unless there is an official complaint in reference to this, the government cannot do anything.”
The Chinese Embassy made the move after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. vice president Jose Tria proposed the transfer of POGOs to “self-contained” hubs to limit Chinese workers’ interactions with Filipinos.
Tria said the proposal to confine the Chinese workers in designated areas is intended to limit their interactions with the locals amid complaints of unruly behavior of Chinese workers./PN
