MANILA — The issuance of visas upon arrival (VUA) to Chinese nationals should have been suspended a long time  ago even before the outbreak of the 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-NcoV),  as the travel document has been  hijackes  by human traffickers who facilitate the entry of illegal Chinese workers in the country, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on  Wednesday.

“Mabuti na rin at sinuspend na ng Bureau of Immigration (BI) ang visas upon arrival kahapon kaugnay ng new coronavirus,” Hontiveros said.

“Kaya pala nilang umaksyon nang ganiyan sa isang public health emergecy, eh di sana mas maagang inaksyunan na rin nila in terms of trafficking and prostitution na nangyayari,” Hontiveros  said.

The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Tuesday revealed that women are being sold like food in restaurants in alleged prostitution dens catering to Chinese nationals.

Hontiveros stressed that the thriving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) industry may be linked to the rise of prostitution in the country and that curbing the entry of illegal Chinese workers could be a solution.

It’s very possible na itong negosyo ng prostitution at trafficking ay unfortunately kapatid o kakambal na negosyo ng POGO industry,” Hontiveros also  said. (Stacy Ang/IAMIGO/CPH)