Lawmaker seeks probe of illegal gambling in economic zones

A party-list lawmaker has called for an inquiry into reports of illegal gambling in the special economic zones.

“Apart from possible violations of immigration, investment and information technology (IT) laws and regulations, these illegal gambling operators have also been allegedly engaged in tax evasion, gunrunning and other crimes,” ABAKADA party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz said.

De la Cruz has filed a resolution calling on the House good government and public accountability committee to investigate, in aid of legislation, the reported proliferation of illegal gambling operations in the guise of gaming and IT operations.

These operations, he said, were principally based in the special economic zones and manned mainly by foreigners.

The author said the activities came to light in the course of the House deliberations on the alleged bribery and corruption activities involving Wang Bo, a Chinese national who was recently deported to China.

Conflicting laws

De la Cruz said one issue that emerged from that investigation was the “loose and oftentimes conflicting appreciation and implementation of immigration laws, tending to afford officials and personnel of the Bureau of Immigration undue discretion, creating in the process an environment susceptible to pressure and corruption,” De la Cruz said.

The lawmaker expressed concern about how easy it was for companies who claim to be engaged in “new and improved information and communications technology systems” to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and subsequently at the special economic zones.

“The easy and loose manner by which these companies have been given ‘legal status’ to conduct their businesses has resulted in the spike in criminal activities, including but not limited to, money laundering, bribery and corruption of public officials,” he said.

International concern

De la Cruz further noted that “these illegal gambling operations have also merited the serious concern of foreign governments and agencies which, in the case of Wang Bo, resulted in his being charged with conducting large-scale illegal online gambling operations.”

“Wang Bo’s alleged illegal online gambling operations involved Chinese nationals, who have been put on the watch list of both the government of the People’s Republic of China (PROC) and Interpol,” he added.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has also long been concerned about online gambling operators based in freeport zones such as Subic and Clark.