Philippine Senator Francis Escudero recently criticized the Philippine Immigration Bureau, saying that its strict procedures for vetting Filipinos out of the country have caused some people to miss their flights or be unable to travel smoothly, but it has strict regulations on offshore gaming operators (POGOs) entering the Philippines. The staff is very relaxed.

"Have we made a mistake? Shouldn't we be stricter on arrivals and more lenient on our fellow Filipinos who want to go abroad?" Escudero said.

He added that while the Immigration Bureau is strict on outbound Filipinos, it is very lenient on offshore gaming operator (POGO) employees or foreign gamblers entering the country. He expressed sympathy for Filipinos seeking better opportunities abroad, noting that the Philippines has no policy against becoming OFWs.

The number of Chinese students in Cagayan and surrounding areas has reportedly increased, especially around the province’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites.

Escudero said he was also concerned about the issue amid reports that the Armed Forces of the Philippines were restricting Chinese investors from entering certain areas, although there is no dispute between the Philippines and China.

He said: "There are reports that the Philippine military is restricting Chinese investors from entering certain areas on the grounds that these areas are close to military installations. I would like to know if the government has such a policy and when the military can make such a decision because of the geographical location. Such restrictions. There are many EDCA sites in the Philippines, so should all foreigners be restricted? Why only Chinese people?