China appreciates PH shut down of Pogo firms, rescue of Chinese citizens

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian. Photo from the Chinese Embassy

MANILA, Philippines — China expressed appreciation to the Philippines on Tuesday after the latter shut down Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) and rescued Chinese nationals.

Under Chinese law and regulations, its citizens gambling overseas, opening casinos to entice Chinese citizens as primary consumers constitute gambling crimes.

“It is appreciated that relevant Philippine law enforcement agencies rescued a number of Chinese citizens and shut down some POGO companies during their operations,” the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a statement.

“Crimes induced by and associated with Pogo not only harm China’s interests and China-Philippines relations, but also hurt the interests of the Philippines. It is therefore widely believed that social costs of Pogo far outweigh its economic benefits to the Philippines in the long run and Pogo should be tackled from the root so as to address the social ills in a sweeping manner,” it added.

The Chinese Embassy is expecting more Chinese tourists to visit the Philippines after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early Tuesday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that the Philippines is included in China’s blacklist of tourism destinations due to Pogo operations.

Zubiri attributed the low Chinese tourist arrivals in the country to the blacklist.

In 2019, nearly two million Chinese nationals visited the Philippines.

The Senate committee on ways and means is weighing the social costs and benefits of Pogos to the country amid the alleged surge of kidnapping cases linked to the industry.

JPV