The Parañaque City government, tapping law enforcement agents, is going against a medical facility in Multinational Subdivision, Barangay Moonwalk, reportedly attending to Chinese nationals with the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).
Mayor Edwin Olivarez directed city police commander Col. Robin Sarmiento to launch an immediate operation against the establishment, following the request of residents who asked the local government to frequently inspect the village after learning that several Chinese nationals were seen frequently entering the commercial buildings, rented homes and condo units in the gated subdivision.
Village residents suspect the establishment remains operational even after the agents of the National Bureau of Investigation – Task Force Against Illegal Drugs conducted a raid on May 29 and discovered the illegal clinic inside the facility along Timothy Street.
Seized during the raid were boxes of dextrose, beach chairs, unregistered Chinese medicines used to treat respiratory illness, swab samples, face masks and gloves.
The authorities also arrested four Chinese nationals identified as Liang Junshai, Pingqiang Long, Yanyun Jiang, and Tang Hong Shan during the operation.
One of the arrested foreigners also got injured after trying to escape by jumping off the third floor of the building.
Sarmiento said he believed there were more underground Chinese clinics in Paranaque because of the presence of Chinese nationals temporarily residing in the city.
The Multinational Village, five kilometers from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and nine kilometers from Villamor Air Base of the Philippine Air Force, used to be a quiet, gated residential community.
But residents said the proliferation of Philippines Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) brought a “dramatic increase” of Chinese nationals, now renting in big residential houses and condominiums in Barangays Baclaran, Tambo, and BF Homes, and in Multinational Village.
Records from the city’s Business Permit and Licensing Office showed there were about 19 legal POGO operations in the city, mostly at the Entertainment City in Coastal Road and Roxas Boulevard.
Residents expressed alarm as they might risk contracting COVID-19.
City administrator Fernando Soriano disclosed there were about 35,000 to 40,000 Chinese nationals, mostly working and connected in POGO operations, were residing in different barangays near the POGO establishments.
Soriano assured residents the city government was taking appropriate precautionary measures provided by the city health office to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Olivarez had ordered city chief health officer Dr. Olga Virtusio to conduct a weekly swab testing in Multinational Village to avoid virus contamination.
The city chief executive also directed Business Permit and License Office chief Melanie Malaya to regularly inspect all commercial establishments after learning that huge businesses operated by Chinese nationals but using Filipino dummy were not paying the right fees and taxes.
Olivarez also instructed city building office chief Diamela Apolinario to examine the building permits of the condominiums and residential houses in the village, reportedly not issuing receipts to the foreign tenants.