Escudero cautions Senate against inviting China reps in Pogos probe

Senator Francis Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri would have wanted a representative from the Chinese embassy to participate in the Senate probe on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) but  was cautioned against it.

At Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate committee on ways and means, Zubiri moved to invite an officer of the  embassy to read  China’s official  stand on Pogos.

“The ambassador agreed he will send an officer or an official of the Chinese embassy to read out the official statement on China’s position on Pogo, which is to totally ban, it’s totally illegal in China,” the Senate leader said, citing his recent  conversation with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian.

Huang paid a courtesy  call  to  Zubiri  on Monday  afternoon where they  discussed, among others, the  issue of Pogos  and the rise of criminality  linked to the online  gambling in the country.

But  Senator Francis  “Chiz” Escudero  said it  might be “improper” to invite  a representative of  foreign  country to testify  to any  of the Senate  inquiry which is “purely internal matter.”

“I think the statements  shared by the good Senate President is enough to inform and afford the   committee the opportunity to  include  in its evaluation but to actually  invite a representative from a foreign country with respect to an internal matter in the Philippines?” he said.

“Because for that matter, then  let’s  invite them too when we talk  of the West Philippine Sea. Let’s  invite them too when we talk about smuggling  that most of it  is coming from other countries that is also affecting the crime  rate in the country.”

“I don’t think it would  be proper both ways,  for us to invite them when we need them  or for them   to come to us. But I think the statement of the good Senate President is on the record and will  be taken  into consideration by the committee  as we proceed with this committee hearing…” Escudero added.

Following Escudero’s remarks, Zubiri suggested to just  allow the  embassy to submit to the committee  an official statement   of the Chinese government  on Pogos.

“We do that in the  past, an official statement and I think the official statement would suffice,”  Zubiri said.

While he did not object to the suggestion, Escudero said the statement  from China should be submitted  to  a member of the Senate and the committee should not ask for it.

Before this,  Zubiri disclosed that  the Philippines is now on China’s blacklist of tourist sites  because of  continuous  Pogo operations in the country.

JPV