The top cop of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) said there is no confirmation of alleged Chinese nationals engaging in illegal activities, particularly illegal gambling, in Iloilo City.

This, after Iloilo City Representative Julienne Baronda, in a media interview last week, quoted the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that Chinese nationals are engaged in illegal activities in the city.

In an interview, PRO-6 director Brigadier General Jack Wanky said he tasked the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) to conduct monitoring activities, and so far, has yielded no confirmation of the NBI report.

“We relied on our troops on the ground to monitor, especially in subdivisions where the alleged Chinese are staying, but it turned out negative,” he said.

He added that there was also a report of Chinese nationals renting a place in one subdivision last week, which turned out to be Filipino citizens with a company engaged in information technology and selling computers.

“It was recommended the city hall check if the business is operating legally. It’s a private subdivision and not a commercial area,” he added.

Wanky said there is no need to create a special body to look into the report since validation of the alleged illegal activities turned negative.

In a separate interview, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said it was not clear what illegal activities are being referred to by the NBI.

He added that the NBI should have arrested the persons involved if the report is true.

“If there is really something illegal being done, it is incumbent upon the NBI to catch these people, arrest them. If you do not arrest [them], then it means you condone them. We do not condone anything illegal here,” the city mayor said.

Nonetheless, he said the ICPO under Colonel Kim Legada is “preparing something, but don’t want to telegraph their actions.“ (PNA)