A group of homeowners at Multinational Village in Parañaque City is appealing to national security authorities to conduct a serious background inquiry into the throng of draft-age male Chinese nationals currently residing in their neighborhood.
The residents echoed concerns aired by some lawmakers and defense officials on the possible presence of Chinese “sleeper” agents in key sectors, recently within the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, amid Beijing’s aggressive posturing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In an interview, Geraldine Natividad, an incumbent director of the Multinational Village Homeowners’ Association Inc. (MVHA), said the Chinese nationals, purportedly employed by nonspecific Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and currently “numbering in the thousands,” have already taken over parts of their sprawling subdivision.
Natividad said that at least 10 Chinese restaurants and a number of spa salons that cater exclusively to Chinese expatriates and shun Filipino patrons were established within their subdivision.
POGOs have also secured subdivision gate stickers for no less than 800 “HiAce-type” vans to service the transportation needs of their Chinese employees residing in Multinational Village, she added.
“There is an enclave within our village called City Garden that is populated exclusively by Mainland Chinese. This is apart from the numerous houses and tenement structures being rented by them. We have learned that in some cases, 50 or more foreigners are crammed inside these rented housing units,” she told the Manila Standard.