SURIGAO del Norte Second District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers is urging the Marcos administration to repeal Executive Order 285 of former President Joseph Estrada which empowers the Bureau of Immigration to convert tourist visas into student visas.

Under EO 285, an inter-agency committee on foreign students was created, chaired by the Commission on Higher Education, with the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Bureau of Investigation, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and Department of Education as members.

“In today’s setting, this particular power by the BI can be abused. This arbitrary power to convert visas is the worst legalized scheme that can be used by unscrupulous personnel for monetary gain,” Barbers said in a statement.

“The 16,200 student visas that the BI granted to Chinese nationals in 2023 are simply unacceptable. Never mind if other countries grant more, we should never use that as our yardstick given our tense relationship with China,” he added.

The solon stressed that the power should be given only to DFA, which alone possesses the expertise to determine whether the foreigners asking that their tourist visas be changed into student visas are eligible or not.

It can be recalled that several members of the Congress are calling for an inquiry into the increasing number of Chinese students in the country, particularly in sensitive areas like Cagayan where military bases are situated.