By Jet D. Antolin
MANY Chinese nationals have been granted investor visas, but instead of establishing businesses in the Philippines, they end up as regular employees in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
This was revealed by House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo after filing House Resolution (HR) 1771 to investigate the issuance of visas by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) and Board of Investments (BOI) to mostly Chinese nationals.
“There was no significant investment made here, yet they have investor visas. Some are mere employees of POGO but hold investor visas. How the hell did that happen,” Tulfo said in an ambush interview today, Tuesday.
The BOI issues investor visas to foreigners in exchange for their investment in the country, while the PRA issues resident visas to elderly foreigners who wish to retire in the Philippines.
According to data reportedly obtained by the House from the Bureau of Immigration (BIR), around 78,000 foreigners were granted retirement visas by the PRA, with 30,000 of them being Chinese nationals.
“It’s puzzling that they were given retirement visas even before retiring because the ages are between thirty and fifty,” the lawmaker said.
Due to this, an investigation has been called for because there are allegations of abuse concerning retirement and investment visas, allowing any foreigner holding these visas to stay in the country for as long as they wish.
Tulfo added that attention will also be given to the late registration of birth certificates, as this is also reportedly being exploited, resulting in many foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, instantly becoming Filipino citizens and purchasing properties in the country, with some even allegedly becoming government officials.
“We should look into this. It seems there is abuse in granting retirement visas, investor visas, and late registrations,” the lawmaker further explained.
The PRA falls under the Department of Tourism (DOT), while the BOI is part of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) approves late registrations, so they will be summoned for the upcoming investigation.
