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.