In Paracale, Camarines Norte: ‘Chinese ops threaten our nat’l security’ - Gov

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

The presence of 11 Chinese nationals in Camarines Norte is not merely about searching for gold but a front for a pseudo-business activity with objectives that may threaten national security, Camarines Norte Governor Ricarte Padilla told Bicol Mail in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

Padilla expressed concern over the apprehension of 11 Chinese nationals at a mining site owned by incumbent councilor Amelia Oco in Paracale town. He stated that their activities could jeopardize the country’s security.

“The AFP intelligence unit came to me and informed me about illegal aliens, specifically Chinese nationals, inside Councilor Oco’s facility. I instructed them to validate the information. We coordinated with the PNP intelligence community, which initially thought these Chinese were investors looking for opportunities,” Padilla said during the interview at the Indigenous Peoples Day celebration held in Manide Ancestral Domain, Sitio Calibigaho, Barangay Osmeña, Jose Panganiban town.

Padilla said that after months of investigation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) uncovered that the Chinese nationals had been residing in Camarines Norte for over six months.

“The AFP conducted its own investigation and reported the findings to the national government and the Bureau of Immigration. They discovered that these individuals were staying illegally and found machinery being installed at the site. This is not just about mining for gold—it has significant national security implications,” Padilla explained.

Following the discovery, Padilla said the national government intervened, and efforts were made to prevent further illegal activities by the foreign nationals.

“We need to remain vigilant. I do not want a repeat of what happened in Tarlac with Mayor Alice Guo. Recently, a similar raid in Zamboanga also uncovered the presence of Chinese nationals in a mining area. This pattern is becoming alarming,” Padilla warned.

He added that this was not a simple investment, citing the discovery of a 44-foot speedboat with two brand-new engines worth approximately P8 million patrolling the waters of Camarines Norte. “What caught our attention was the food and soft drinks waste found on board—all products from China,” he said.

Padilla, who also chairs the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Bicol, raised concerns over the unchecked presence of Chinese nationals in rural areas of the Philippines, particularly in Bicol.

“We don’t know the full extent of their activities here under the guise of business. As governor, I will not allow them to operate in our province through these pseudo-business activities with questionable objectives,” he said.

Padilla also highlighted Camarines Norte’s proximity to the Benham Rise, a strategic area in the Pacific Ocean, as a potential target for Chinese interests.

“I have instructed our intelligence officials to closely monitor the Pacific side of the country because we’ve received reports of vessel sightings near Catanduanes and Rapu-Rapu in Albay. Their interest isn’t limited to the West Philippine Sea; they are expanding toward the Pacific, which brings them close to the Benham Rise,” he said.

The arrest of the 11 Chinese nationals at Councilor Oco’s mining site, Padilla added, may only be the “tip of the iceberg.” When asked about Oco, Padilla confirmed that Oco is running for mayor of Paracale in the 2025 local elections.

This reporter confirmed with Comelec Bicol regional director Maria Juana “Jane” Valeza that Amelia O. Oco has filed a certificate of candidacy under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) for the mayoral post. She will be running against re-electionist Romeo Y. Moreno of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and independent candidate Adrian V. Briguerra.

The joint forces of the AFP, PNP, Bureau of Immigration, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) apprehended the 11 Chinese nationals at Oco’s Mineral Processing Plant in Barangay Tugos, Paracale, on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024.

Those arrested include Liu Wei Xi, Chen Gui Hua, Chang Si Ci, Chen Chan Xia, Liu Wei Mang, Yu Yun Lai, Zhen Zi Yu, Li Chun, Jiu Zhong Ren, Lou Peng, and Sheng Yuan Fan. The arrests were made around 8:30 a.m. as the day’s work began.

Tugos is known as one of the gold-rich villages in Camarines Norte. The Bureau of Immigration confirmed that none of the Chinese nationals had the required documents or work visas, with one of them not permitted to be working in the province at all.