The Naval Forces West (NFW) has sought the help of the City Tourism Department (CTD) in ensuring that Chinese nationals visiting Puerto Princesa do not go inside military premises to take pictures as they are not tourist spots.
This is after reports came out this week that two groups of Chinese nationals were caught taking pictures inside the military’s Tide Pole naval facility in Parola, Brgy. Bagong Silang on the night of July 23.
City tourism officer Aileen Cynthia Amurao said they will cooperate with the Navy.
However, she clarified that their office had nothing to do with the Chinese group visiting the Tide Pole.
“Sabi ko nga first time siyang nangyari, parang Monday or Tuesday. We are cooperating. Actually, I am attending several meetings pagdating dyan sa Western Command (WESCOM). Marami tayong efforts para mailatag din ang security all over the city not only sa ating mga tourist destinations,” said Amurao.
Amurao said an intelligence officer of the Philippine Navy’s NFW, which she refused to name, went to her office Friday with a letter requesting to prohibit tourists from visiting their base in Parola.
She said the Parola area is not part of any tour package since it is a military installation.
She said it is not clear to her if the Chinese groups went in the area by boat or land transportation.
Amurao noted the naval officer told her that the two groups of Chinese nationals were caught roaming and taking pictures inside the Parola where their new naval ship was berthed.
She said naval officers confronted the groups of Chinese people who mentioned to them her office.
Amurao said the Chinese nationals possibly uttered the word “tourist” and not “city tourism office” considering some of them cannot speak English fluently.
Although willing to help, Amurao suggested to the naval officer that the letter be addressed instead to Mayor Lucilo Bayron.
Amurao said that since CTO cannot prevent the tourists or Chinese nationals from going to the area, it is the call of the Philippine Navy to watch closely anyone who will threaten public security.
“Dapat call niyo ‘yon, you have the authority. Hindi tayo dapat naghuhula-hula. Kung iyan hinold ninyo at in-interrogate. Dapat hinold nila,” Amurao told Palawan News.
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