MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the Philippines and China should have discussed ways to make certain that deported Chinese criminals can’t return to the Philippines ever again.
Hontiveros made the remark after Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian met in Malacañang on Monday to discuss mutual concerns, particularly transnational crimes.
“The transnational syndicates associated with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) are Chinese nationals, so it is only right that the Philippine government works with the Chinese government in cracking down on these criminals’ illicit activities,” said Hontiveros.
“The Executive Secretary and the ambassador should have also discussed ways to ensure that criminals deported back to China do not ever step foot on our shores again, especially since we are seeing increasing alarming evidence globally that these criminals also sometimes work for the Chinese State,” she emphasized.
Hontiveros said she trusts that Bersamin was careful, adding that the Philippine government must not allow the country to be a destination for spying or for crimes.
Several senators have been urging President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to completely ban Pogos in the Philippines, pointing out that these only “made the country a fertile ground for various crimes.”
Earlier, the Chinese embassy likewise appealed to the Marcos’ administration to consider banning Pogos in order to root out “social ills.”
