Manila, April 25 -- Senator Francis Escudero on Thursday asked the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to intensify its scrutiny of foreigners entering the country, following reports of Chinese students in Cagayan allegedly "acting as spies" and engaging in "degree for sale" with local colleges and universities.

Escudero said such accusations should not cause undue alarm without proof.

"Kung ang mga basehan lamang ay dahil may base ang Tsina sa West Philippine Sea, na may isyu tayo ngayon sa kanila kaya malamang espiya ang mga estudyanteng Chinese nationals sa Cagayan kaya dapat ipagbawal ang ang mga iyan, hindi naman siguro dapat ganun (If the only basis is our issue with China who has built bases in the West Philippine Sea, that maybe the Chin...