Chinese-Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI), in coordination with the Foreign Affairs Committee, held a public forum on law and order on October 24, 2022 at the Ballroom of the Manila Hotel. The forum was attended by approximately 200 people, including Chinese Embassy Counselor Wang Yue, Consul General, government officials, representatives of foreign chambers of commerce, leaders of major Chinese chambers of commerce and associations, newspaper media, television stations, and DPA colleagues.
Luis Dela Paz of DPA Law Firm was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. He first welcomed and introduced the main dignitaries in attendance, and then invited the President of the Council, Mr. Stephen Sia, to deliver a welcome speech, saying that the first 100 days of reforms in the Department of Justice under the leadership of Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla have left a deep impression on the people, and that he is leading the agency towards an efficient, transparent and inclusive administration of justice system. The Association expressed its deep appreciation for the positive reforms undertaken by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and looks forward to even brighter results in the future.
In his speech, Secretary Remulla stated that he strongly believes that an effective justice system is necessary for economic reform to ensure the revitalization of a strong economy. The Secretary mentioned that the DOJ has established an office that will focus on the legal needs of business people, to promote a stable corporate legal system, and to provide a stable business environment conducive to businessmen's investments. According to the Secretary, the DOJ has made efforts for the business sector, such as the decontamination of laws, promoting public-private partnership programs, and inviting the Chinese community to help build the country.
He even mentioned that the Filipino-Chinese community has played an important role in the business and professional sectors in the Philippines for hundreds of years. He also mentioned that the Department is currently implementing electronic access to its records, which will allow for easier access to reports, application lists, permits and other documents, and save time.
The Secretary also mentioned that the DOJ is working on a legalization or amnesty for overstaying aliens, especially Chinese, who have lived in the Philippines for many years and have adapted to Philippine customs but are still in an illegal status because they have not been granted full citizenship. The minister said this is a program he wants to promote. He also revealed that he had recommended to the President our Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors become the Director of the Bureau of Immigration. Secretary Remulla also shared some of his discussions with the President, emphasizing the President's passion for serving the country in the best possible way.
During the Q&A session, Minister Remulla assured that the rights of legitimate businessmen and foreign investors will be fully protected, and this includes online gaming operators (POGOs). The minister said that online gaming is legal if they are licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), but if they start thinking that they can do whatever they want and do not pay taxes or comply with regulations, the government can revoke their licenses at any time. He stressed that foreign investors, especially Chinese investors, are welcome in the Philippines, but the government only welcomes legitimate businessmen and opposes those who operate for money laundering purposes. Other questions and answers include: a petition for review will be passed to alleviate overcrowding in national prisons. It will be fully open to foreign investment in renewable energy. Visa-on-arrival has been discontinued, which the Secretary said was an abusive practice that the DOJ does not support. Asked what the Ministry of Justice was doing to address alleged corruption in its agencies, the minister replied: “the government is doing its best to address corruption and believes that within six months the people will see significant changes.”
At the end of the question-and-answer session, the Council leader presented a plaque of appreciation to Secretary Remulla. Finally, Vice President Paul Yeung gave a speech of thanks and started the dinner. The meeting ended successfully before 9:00 pm.
菲華工商總會訊：本會由外交委員會籌辦，於十月廿四日（星期一）晚假馬尼拉酒店百齡廳舉辦了一場有關律法的公開問答論壇，邀請到司法部部長Jesus Crispin C. Remulla擔任主講人。當晚，中國駐菲使館王悅參贊兼總領事，多位政府官員，駐菲外國商會代表，華社各主要商會、社團負責人、報館媒體、電視台與本會同仁，共約兩百人出席了該場論壇。
當晚由DPA 律師行的Luis Dela Paz律師任司儀，他首先歡迎及介紹出席的主要貴賓，接著邀請本會理事長謝國萬致歡迎詞，他表示新政府司法部門在Remulla部長的領導下，首百日的各項改革給人民留下了深刻的印象，他帶領著該機構朝著高效、透明和包容的司法系統管理邁進。本會對司法部進行的積極改革深表讚賞，期待司法部長在其任期內能做出更亮眼的成績。
副理事長曾國強介紹主講人；Remulla部長在致詞時表示：他堅信，為確保重振強勁的經濟，有效的司法系統對於經濟改革是必要的。部長提到司法部已建立PPP辦公室，主要提供商人法律需求，促進穩定的企業法律體系，提供一個有利於商人投資的穩定商業環境；根據部長的說法，司法部已經為商業部門做出了努力，例如法律的去汙化，推動公私合營方案，邀請華社人士共同協助建設國家。他甚至講到菲華社會數百年來在菲律濱商業和專業領域都佔據著重要的角色，岷倫洛王彬街更是世界上第一個也是最古老的唐人街，很多華人在菲繁衍後代，傳到現在已經是第三、四代華裔，除了對政府的支持，其商業市場還為國家創造了許多就業機會。他也講到目前該部門正實施電子化，將檔案紀錄存入數據庫，利於查詢或調取報告，申請清單、許可證和其他文件等，更能節約時間。
部長還談到，司法部正在為逾期居留的外籍人士，特別是華人，制定一項逾期居留外國人合法化或大赦，這些人士已經在菲律濱居住多年，適應了菲律濱的習俗，但由於沒有獲得正式公民身份而仍然處於非法狀態。部長說，這是他想要推動的一個計劃。他還透露已經向總統推薦留典輝律師（本會榮譽理事長）擔任移民局局長。事實上留律師是部長的移民法顧問，現正在幫助他制定新的《外國人大赦法案》。Remulla部長還與大家分享了他與總統的一些討論，強調了總統願以最佳方式為國家服務的熱情。
在問答環節Remulla部長保證，合法商人和外國投資者的權益將獲得充分保障，這包括網絡博彩營運商(POGO)。部長表示，網絡博彩若持有菲娛樂博彩公司(PAGCOR)牌照都是合法的，但如果他們開始以為自己可以為所欲為，不納稅，不遵守規定，政府隨時可以吊銷他們的牌照。他強調，菲律濱歡迎外國投資者，特別是中國投資者，但菲政府只歡迎合法商人，反對那些以洗錢為目的的商家。其他的問答有：將通過審查請願書緩解國家監獄的擁擠狀況。將對國外可再生能源投資全面開放。已停止落地簽證，部長指這是一種濫用做法，司法部並不支持。當問到司法部如何解決下屬機構所涉嫌的腐敗問題時，部長回答：政府正在盡最大的努力解決腐敗問題，相信在六個月內，人民將看到重大變化。
Remulla部長對提問者的問題，詳細解答，侃侃而談；在問答環節結束後，本會領導頒贈感謝牌給Remulla部長。最後由副理事長楊良田致謝詞，並開始餐敘。大會在晚上九點前圓滿結束。
圖片說明：
上左、右小圖（上至下）分別是謝國萬，曾國強，楊良田，Luis Dela Paz律師致詞主持之影。上中圖：司法部長Jesus Crispin C. Remulla主講。
中圖一：本會領導向主講人Remulla部長頒贈感謝牌（左起）本會董事杜祖蔭，陳華民，副理事長許文忠，林天德，曾國強，Remulla部長，理事長謝國萬，副理事長楊良田，榮譽理事長黃拔來，副理事長蔡金東，名譽理事長許長安，名譽副理事長李少平。
中圖二：貴賓合影（左起）立案秘書吳恆利，蔡金東，曹凱文領事，商總副理事長施東方博士，黃拔來，商總理事長林育慶博士，王悅參贊兼總領事，謝國萬，許長安，楊良田，菲律濱中國商會副會長鄭煒煌博士。
下左圖：與貴賓合影（左起）菲華消防隊總會秘書長王濟利，本會常務理事許有福，楊良田，許長安，Malabon市長Jeannie Sandoval，Navotas市長John Rey Tiangco，謝國萬，曾國強，常務理事林文龍。
下右圖：主賓桌部分貴賓合影（左起）本會榮譽理事長留典輝律師，菲華各界副主席蔡永寧，Remulla部長，謝國萬，馬尼拉第三區眾議員Joel Chua。
