Photo:VCG

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has sent consular officials to visit detained personnel from Chinese enterprises and actively provide consular assistance and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian required the Philippine authorities effectively guarantee the personal safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement in response to reports that at least 79 Chinese citizens had been detained by the Philippine authorities.

According to media reports, at least 79 Chinese citizens were detained by the National Bureau of Investigation （NBI） in a factory in Bulacan Province. NBI Director Jaime Santiago was cited by local media as saying that at least 36 of them were undocumented, while 23 had tourist visas.

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines attaches great importance to the safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens in the Philippines. Upon learning of the situation, the embassy immediately activated an emergency mechanism, sought to verify the details through various channels, and dispatched consular officials to visit detained personnel from Chinese enterprises and actively provide consular assistance, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement on Friday.

Ambassador Huang Xilian and other officials have made representations at different levels through multiple channels to Philippine officials, demanding that authorities effectively guarantee the personal safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens, the embassy said.

The embassy will continue to closely follow developments, and urged the Philippine side to handle the case lawfully, fairly, and prudently, while fully protecting the legal rights of Chinese citizens, according to the statement.

Global Times