China reiterates appeal for Philippines to ban POGOs

MANILA, Philippines — Banned in China, offshore gaming should also be prohibited in the Philippines where many Chinese citizens have become hooked on it and ended up as victims of the social ill, China’s embassy said yesterday.

In a statement, the Chinese embassy appealed to Manila to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators and refrain from making “baseless” accusations against China regarding illegal activities of POGOs.

“We appeal to the Philippines to ban POGO at an early date so as to root out this social ill. And we firmly oppose any baseless accusation and smearing against China in connection with POGO,” the embassy said.

It assured Manila that as it has done so in the past, China will be working closely with Philippine authorities to stop illegal gambling operations that spawn other criminal activities.

“The vast majority of the Chinese citizens involved in these cases are victims of the Philippine offshore gambling industry. The Chinese government is committed to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens,” it added.

The Chinese embassy noted that ample evidence shows that POGO breeds serious crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, human trafficking and murder.

“POGO is detrimental to both Philippine and Chinese interests and images as well as China-Philippines relations,” the statement stressed.

The embassy revealed that for many years, Chinese and Philippine law enforcement agencies have maintained close communication and cooperation and conducted multiple joint operations to bring down cross-border gambling and telecom fraud.

“Since 2018, nearly 3,000 Chinese citizens implicated in the cases have been repatriated with joint efforts of both sides. In the past year alone, China has assisted the Philippines in shutting down five POGO hubs and repatriated nearly 1,000 Chinese citizens.”

Some sectors have expressed concern that the Chinese military was using POGO hubs as surveillance centers or as quarters for sleeper cells.

Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said yesterday the discovery of at least 18 sets of what appeared to be Chinese military uniforms during a raid on a POGO hub in Pampanga could indicate the involvement of Chinese soldiers – retired or absent without leave – in illegal activities at POGO sites. The uniforms were were recovered from the Lucky South 99 compound in Porac town.

Cruz would not say if members of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are in the country masquerading as POGO workers.

“They might be scalawags because there were instances when we encountered foreign military scalawags in uniform,” he said in an interview over dzBB.

He added they would seek help from foreign experts to determine if the uniforms found were really for PLA soldiers. “Of course there has to be documentation that they’re legit,” he pointed out.

Cruz said six of the 45 buildings in the 10-hectare compound have yet to be searched.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said that while it is too early to conclude that the uniforms found were those of Chinese soldiers, his command is always ready to deal with any security threat.

“Rest assured, we are 100 percent ready,” he told reporters. He declined to share details of the investigation on the matter.

Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Romualdez is open to continued operations of POGOs, provided they strictly observe Philippine laws.

“For me, what’s important is that all our (POGO) stakeholders must follow the rule of law. And for those who will violate our laws, then I must say you’ll be sorry because our law enforcers will definitely be going after you,” he said in Filipino.

The leader of the 310-member House noted the government is determined to implement laws on POGO “to the fullest.”

“That is why if they (Chinese working in POGO outlets) are doing everything illegal, then they will really be arrested. But if they will just abide by our laws, then I don’t think we will have any problems,” he added.

“We have a process for that (banning POGOs), we have to go through that process where hearings will be held and we have to hear the concerns of all our stakeholders, what is their position. And from there, we will be weighing our options on what to do best with them,” he added.

Currently, several bills that seek to ban POGOs are pending at the House, including those filed by Manila Rep. Benny Abante, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, and Makabayan bloc party-list Reps. France Castro (ACT Teachers), Raoul Manuel (Kabataan) and Arlene Brosas (Gabriela). — Emmanuel Tupas, Sheila Crisostomo