According to reports, the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of the Philippines recently disbanded the bureau’s Special Task Force (NBI-STF) and initiated an internal investigation due to operational violations. The incident stemmed from the NBI-STF’s unlawful detention of nine Chinese citizens in Malolos City, Bulacan Province, on July 14. Prior to this, the individuals’ lawyers had repeatedly raised concerns about the legality of the Philippine authorities’ procedures, and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines had also expressed its concerns. On August 8, a journalist inquired about the Chinese Embassy’s comments on the matter.
The spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines stated that upon learning of the detention of the nine Chinese citizens by Philippine law enforcement on July 14, the embassy took the matter seriously. Embassy officials promptly conducted consular visits to the individuals, gathered detailed information about the case, and urged the Philippine side to handle the case fairly and in accordance with the law. The embassy also requested timely updates on the case and called for the protection of the detained Chinese citizens’ safety and legal rights. Additionally, given that several underage Chinese citizens faced difficulties due to their parents’ detention, embassy officials visited them and provided ongoing assistance. Currently, the nine detained Chinese citizens have been released.
The spokesperson further stated that since the legal proceedings of the case are still ongoing, and Philippine law enforcement has publicly acknowledged the procedural violations, the embassy has lodged further representations with the Philippine side. It urged the Philippine authorities to take effective measures to resolve the case properly, return the confiscated documents and belongings, and conduct a thorough investigation. The embassy also called for transparency in clarifying the facts of the incident, disclosing accountability measures, ensuring justice for those involved, and preventing similar incidents from recurring. The embassy emphasized the need to create a safe, fair, and non-discriminatory living and working environment for Chinese citizens in the Philippines.
