PH gov’t tolerating Chinese crime gangs through POGO – Pangilinan

MANILA, Philippines  – Senator Francis Pangilinan is supporting China’s suggestion to revoke the licenses of Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) in the country, since its presence iis tantamount to the Philippine government condoning the operations of the criminal syndicates.

“Tama naman ang China rito. Kanselahin na ang lisensya ng mga POGO on concerns of criminality and corruption. Iligal ito sa China. Ibig sabihin, mga Chinese criminals ang nagpapatakbo ng mga POGO dito sa Pilipinas (China is right.  The government must cancel POGO licenses. It is illegal in China, hence, Chinese criminals are running POGO operations in the Philippines),” Pangilinan said Wednesday in a statement.

China earlier asked the Philippine government to take a step further in banning all online gambling operations in the country.

READ: China to Philippines: Ban all online gambling 

“It is the Philippine government that is condoning the operations of criminal syndicates,” said Pangilinan.

“Nakakaduda tuloy kung totoo nga ba anti-crime and anti-corruption campaign ng administrasyong ito dahil pinapayagan ang mga Chinese criminal na malayang magsagawa ng mga iligal na negosyo dito sa atin,” he added.

China earlier asked Philippine government to “punish” POGOs, casinos and other forms of gambling entities illegally recruiting Chinese citizens.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila noted that a number of Chinese citizens have been illegally recruited to work in the Philippine gambling industry with some “even lured into and cheated to work illegally with only tourist visas.” /gsg

READ: China wants Philippines to ‘punish’ POGOs, casinos illegally recruiting Chinese workers