The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday called on Chinese authorities to safeguard the welfare of more than 100 Filipinos reportedly arrested in China for allegedly working or residing illegally in the country.
In a statement released on August 13, the DFA said it is coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Beijing and its Consulates-General in China to verify the arrests, determine the exact number and status of those apprehended, and ensure that due process is observed.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs takes note of the statement issued by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the arrest of over 100 Filipino nationals in China,” the DFA said.
The DFA’s statement followed remarks by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Monday that Chinese authorities had taken action against more than 100 Filipinos suspected of working illegally in the country.
The DFA said the Philippines "respects China's sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws" on foreign nationals within its jurisdiction, provided that due process and established legal procedures are followed.
“At the same time, we call on Chinese authorities to safeguard the welfare of the arrested Filipinos and to promptly notify our Foreign Service Posts of their arrest and detention, consistent with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the 2013 Philippines-China Consular Agreement,“ the DFA said.
The DFA also said it is working to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the arrests and the current status of those apprehended.
Earlier, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. criticized the move, describing it as a form of “extortion and blackmail.”
