Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla says about 1% of Chinese visitors entering under a visa-free arrangement did not return to China during its first two months.
Philippine Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has questioned the monitoring of Chinese visitors entering without visas, claiming that approximately 1% did not return to China during the arrangement’s first two months.
Speaking on his DZRH radio programme on Saturday, 7 November 2026, Remulla said his office had studied the scheme. GMA News reported his remarks but did not publish an accompanying dataset or methodology supporting the estimate.
Remulla illustrated his claim with a hypothetical total of 200,000 arrivals, saying that 1% would represent 2,000 people.
What the visa-free arrangement permits
The Philippines visa policy took effect on 16 January 2026, allowing eligible Chinese nationals to visit for tourism or business for up to 14 days.
The Department of Foreign Affairs announced the arrangement for an initial one-year period, subject to review before expiry. Its official announcement therefore places the original policy period into January 2027.
Under the published rules, travellers must present a passport valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay, confirmed hotel accommodation and a return or onward ticket.
The scheme permits entry only through Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Immigration checks also apply to travellers seeking admission.
The Bureau of Immigration’s implementing order states that the 14-day stay cannot be extended or converted into another Philippine visa category.
Tourism department seeks renewal
The Department of Tourism wants the government to renew the arrangement and is considering proposals to add more entry points.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay has argued that stronger monitoring can address misuse while preserving access for legitimate travellers.
The department has submitted an economic paper supporting renewal.
The same report cited 394,384 Chinese visitor arrivals as of 4 November, an increase of 69.78% from the corresponding period in 2025. These figures cover overall Chinese arrivals, not just travellers using the 14-day exemption, and do not measure overstaying.
Deportations add to scrutiny of immigration enforcement
Separately, the Bureau of Immigration deported 115 Chinese nationals on 6 November following October operations against suspected scam hubs and illegal offshore gambling activities.
The Philippine News Agency, citing a bureau release, reported that authorities had arrested 62 of the deportees in Zamboanga Sibugay and 53 in Cubao, Quezon City. The bureau carried out the removals following summary deportation orders.
Visa-processing dispute continues
Remulla also renewed his proposal to outsource visa processing and repeated allegations of financial interests involving travel agencies. The allegations remain unproven; GMA News said it had sought a fresh DFA response but had received none when it published its report.
The DFA previously rejected calls to remove its visa-issuance functions. It distinguished administrative support from the official assessment of applications, maintaining that visa decisions require the exercise of government authority.
