Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno called for the deportation of two Chinese believed to be behind the sale of products mislabeling the Philippine capital as a “Province of China.”

In a Facebook live address on Thursday evening, August 20, Moreno identified the Chinese as Shi Zhong Xing and Shi Li Li.

“Hindi po ako governor ng China, mayor po ako ng Manila, Philippines. ‘Yan po ang address ng Maynila. Maynila ay Pilipinas, at ang Pilipinas ay malaya. May sariling soberanya,” Moreno said.

He added: “Hindi natin hahayaan ang mga superpower na ‘yan na parang tayo ay pinipitik-pitik lang sa mata, at binabalewala nila ang soberanya ng ating bansa, at dito pa gagawin sa Maynila.” (READ: ‘Let’s not hurt China’s feelings’: Why Duterte hasn’t visited Pag-asa Island)

(I am not the governor of China, I am the mayor of Manila, Philippines. That is the address of Manila. Manila is in the Philippines, and the Philippines is free. It has its own sovereignty. We will not allow this superpower to act as if they can just flick us in our eyes, ignore our sovereignty, and do it in Manila.)

Closure ordered too

Moreno then ordered the Manila Bureau of Permits director Levi Facundo to issue a closure order and revocation of permit to operate against the Chinese’s business establishment in Binondo.

On Thursday afternoon, the bureau attempted to close the establishments but they were already closed due to the pandemic, so they just put up “CLOSED” signs in front of them.

In a statement, Facundo said the shop can be liable for misrepresentation for selling products that bear false information.

Moreno also announced on Friday that he has written a letter to the National Bureau of Investigation to see if the Chinese and their stores committed criminal acts for the mislabeling.

It was Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Representative Jericho Nograles who, on Thursday, shared photos of the packaging of Ashley Shine Keratin Treatment Deep Repair, where its complete manufacturing address was listed as “1st floor, 707 Sto Cristo Street, San Nicolas, Manila, Province, P.R. (People’s Republic of) China.” – Rappler.com