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MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is “closely monitoring” the issue regarding the continuous operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the country, the Office of Press Secretary (OPS) said Wednesday.
“Of course the President is closely monitoring this and as far as the President is concerned ang [Philippine National Police] po ang in charge dito sa usapin na ito,” OPS officer-in-charge Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil said in a press briefing.
(Of course the President is closely monitoring this and as far as the President is concerned, it is the PNP that is in charge of this issue.)
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday said the Philippines has been included in China’s blacklist of tourist destinations, citing Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian.
The inclusion of the Philippines in China’s blacklist, Zubiri said, was because of the continued operations of POGOs in the country.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila clarified on Tuesday night that the Philippines is not in China’s tourism blacklist, calling it “misinformation.”
Garafil said the Philippine government “[shares] the sentiment of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines that tourism is an important facet to our relationship.”
“We look forward to continuing that relationship as we continuously welcome our friends from China and we anticipate more of them to come in the months and years ahead,” Garafil said.
READ: PH not on China’s tourism blacklist – Chinese Embassy
READ: ‘Lost in translation’? China ‘may’ blacklist PH – Zubiri
READ: Pogo’s curse: PH on China’s blacklist of tourist sites over offshore gambling ops — Zubiri