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China praises POGO ban decision

The Embassy of China in Manila has welcomed President Marcos’ Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) ban announcement, stating the decision ‘serves the common interests of people of both countries’ and that the industry helps breed ‘serious crimes’.

In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22nd, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that “effective today, all POGOs are banned.” Marcos considered that some of these operations ventured into crimes including financial scams, human trafficking, kidnappings, torture and murder.

POGO Ban, Philippines, SONA

Marcos ordered his government’s gaming regulator PAGCOR to wind down the operations of the gambling outfits by year’s end.

This decision comes after years of appeals from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines to shut down POGOs within the country.

‘We have noted President Marcos’ announcement of banning all POGOs and welcome this development. We believe this decision echoes the call of the Philippine people and serves the common interests of people of both countries,’ the Chinese diplomatic office in the country noted.

The Embassy elaborated that the Chinese government strictly cracks down on Chinese citizens engaging in overseas gambling businesses, including POGOs, as it is prohibited under Chinese law. They stated that ‘POGO breeds serious crimes and gravely undermines the interests of both Philippine and Chinese peoples’.

The Chinese government expressed its readiness ‘to continue its strong law enforcement cooperation with the Philippines and better protect the safety and well-being of the two peoples’, in line with the crackdown on POGOs.

The ban on POGOs marks a significant policy shift in the Philippines, which had previously allowed the online gambling operations to continue, despite concerns raised by China and others over issues like criminality and money laundering.

The crackdown has led to the shuttering of several sprawling complexes where authorities suspect thousands of Chinese, Vietnamese and other nationals, mostly from Southeast Asia, were involved in online gambling operations.

Relations between China and the Philippines under Marcos have been strained, as Marcos has allowed an expanded US military presence in the country and the Philippines has campaigned to expose China’s aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea.

Earlier this month, the same Chinese Embassy issued a statement in which China calls for the Philippines to ban POGOs, calling them a ‘social ill’.

China has repatriated almost 3,000 of its citizens suspected of being involved in illegal activities since 2018.

In the last year alone, the embassy claimed to have assisted in the shutdown of five POGO hubs and the repatriation of nearly 1,000 Chinese citizens from the Philippines.

Pressure on the Philippine President to ban POGOs has been increasing in recent months, especially after Senate investigations exposed several other issues, from fake birth certificates being bought by foreign nationals to illegal operations under the guise of POGOs, and the entire scenario surrounding suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

Nelson Moura
Nelson Mourahttp://agbrief.com
Editor and reporter with 10 years of experience in Greater China, namely Taiwan and Macau, in printed and online media, with a focus on finance, gaming, politics, crime, business and social issues.

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