MANILA, Philippines — China could not dictate on the Philippines to ban all online gambling operations in the country, Manila’s top diplomat to Beijing said Thursday.
“He [Duterte] will say it’s legal in the Philippines,” Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said in a televised briefing from Beijing.
Sta. Romana said Duterte was “prepared” to respond if Chinese President Xi Jinping raises the issue during their bilateral meeting on Thursday afternoon, August 28.
Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana. INQUIRER.net file photo / NESTOR CORRALES
China earlier called on the Philippines to ban online gambling in the Philippines following the rise of Chinese-run Philippine off-shore gaming operators (Pogos) hubs in the country.
READ: China to Philippines: Ban all online gambling
“They can’t dictate on us. That’s our sovereign decision. That is where we stand,” Sta. Romana said.
The Philippine envoy said “the Philippines is taking steps to regulate” online gambling in the country but could not ban it, adding that it would have economic implications in the country. /jpv