Palace says PH does not discriminate against nationalities

Malacañang assured China that the Philippines does not discriminate against any nationality while enforcing its laws against illegal activities.

This statement follows a travel advisory issued by China warning its citizens about potential harassment and interrogation by Philippine authorities.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Clarissa Castro described China's advisory as a normal consular function and denied that the Philippine government is targeting any specific nationality.

She reiterated that all foreign nationals are welcome in the Philippines, provided they are not involved in illegal activities, and the law will be enforced against criminals.

Castro suggested that China's travel advisory may be related to the arrest of Chinese nationals connected to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which have been banned since early 2025.

In its notice, the Chinese embassy in Manila cited an 'unstable public security situation' and 'growingly frequent harassment of Chinese citizens and businesses' as reasons for the warning.