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Friday, March 29, 2024

Gatchalian: Blacklisting issue only case of misappreciation

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Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian did not directly say that the Philippines will be “blacklisted anytime soon” by China for hosting Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday.

His statement contradicted that of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

“Just to be fair, at least in my appreciation, he never categorically said that: ‘Oh, the Philippines will be blacklisted anytime soon.’ He never said that,” Gatchalian said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.

Earlier, Zubiri took exception when the Chinese embassy said the ambassador never said the Philippines would be blacklisted because it allowed the operation of POGOs, which target Chinese nationals with their online gambling operations.

Huang had paid a courtesy call to the Senate earlier this week, meeting with Zubiri, Gatchalian, and Senator Robin Padilla.

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During the Senate hearing on the economic costs and benefits of POGOs, Zubiri said that based on their conversations with Huang, the Philippines has been blacklisted for hosting online gambling. Chinese tourists are also warned against going to the Philippines, citing threats to their safety and security due to the presence of POGOs.

The Chinese embassy later issued a statement saying China has not placed the Philippines on any blacklist, saying the report was “misinformation.”

Zubiri shot back at Huang, saying that the misinformation came from the Chinese envoy.

Gatchalian, however, said this was a simple case of misappreciation.

“I don’t think we should blow this up. To be fair also, the courtesy call was very cordial. We were laughing, we were also serious at one point. It was very cordial.”

When they were discussing POGOs, Gatchalian said Huang explained that their law is very strict against betting, working, and investing in online gambling businesses because of growing cases of suicide and people getting deep into debt.

“And then he (Huang) went to go on saying that in order to prevent their citizens from engaging in the online gambling business, whether working or investing, they implemented a blacklist, and he made an example of Cambodia,” he said.

Gatchalian remembered Huang saying that online gambling is a social problem in China and there were even those who committed suicide for being heavily indebted because of their gambling.

Padilla, meanwhile, recalled that Huang said that based on their assessment, POGO owners and operators are connected with syndicates and illegal activities, which was why many of them are blacklisted or wanted in China.
He also remembered Huang informed them that the Chinese government is keeping tabs on possible crimes stemming from the POGO operations in the Philippines and has warned its nationals visiting the Philippines.

The ambassador made it clear that China does not allow its citizens to gamble online, invest in online gambling businesses, or work in online gaming businesses such as POGOs.

Under China’s laws, it is a crime for Chinese nationals to gamble in their countries—and to open casinos attracting Chinese as primary customers.

“Ambassador Huang pointed these out to illustrate why POGO operations should not be allowed in our country, citing the crimes and other problems associated with them,” Padilla said.

Gatchalian said he believes POGO operations should be stopped.

Aside from the crimes perpetrated by those belonging to the industry, he cited the billions of pesos the Philippines stands to lose if Chinese tourists would be prevented from visiting the country.

Also on Thursday, Quezon City 4th District Rep. Marvin Rillo welcomed the Chinese embassy’s statement denying the backlisting of the Philippines as a tourist destination for its citizens.

Rillo said the county needs some 1.7 million visitors from China every year for the country’s tourism sector to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Criminal syndicates, mostly run by fugitives from China, have been known to target Chinese citizens in the Philippines.

These gangs have been linked to kidnapping, sex trafficking, extortion, and corruption around POGOs that are populated by Chinese workers.

Citing statistics from the Department of Tourism (DOT), Rillo said China was the Philippines’ fastest-growing supplier of foreign visitors before the pandemic.

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