LONE, STRONG OBJECTION Chinese businessman Li Duan Wang’s Filipino citizenship is close to being realized after the Senate approved a bill granting his naturalization despite strong opposition from Sen. Risa Hontiveros (left). The senator says Li is a close associate ofWuDuanren, shown in this photo provided by her office, who is an alleged Chinese fugitive and financier of the gaming hubs that were raided in Tarlac and Pampanga last year. —PHOTOS FROM SEN. RISA HONTIVEROS FACEBOOK PAGE AND NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Li Duan Wang, the Chinese national applying for a Filipino citizenship, is an incorporator of the biggest Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) service provider in the country, Sen. Risa Hontiveros revealed.
During a Senate subcommittee on justice and human rights hearing on Tuesday, Hontiveros described Wang as a “rotten product” of POGO.
“Si Li Duan Wang ay Incorporator ng New Oriental Club 88 Corporation – kumpanya na itinuturing na pinakamalaking POGO Service Provider pero pinasara noong 2019 dahil sa paglabag sa batas,” said Hontiveros.
According to her, Li Duan Wang’s company is still operating as of last year, but their Articles of Incorporation was amended so that their corporate term and existence may be extended.
READ: Senate OKs bill granting PH citizenship to Chinese linked to Pogo
The bill seeking to grant Wang a Filipino citizenship — House Bill No. 8839 – hurdled the Senate’s third and final reading approval with 19 affirmative votes, one negative, and zero abstention.
Only Hontiveros voted against the passage of the measure, emphasizing that she cannot, in good conscience, vote to grant Filipino citizenship to Wang.
Earlier, Hontiveros appealed to her colleagues, requesting that they reject the bill because Wang is a “junket operator” of Nine Dynasty Casino — one of the biggest Pogo actors revealed in the hearings earlier held by the Senate panel on women.
Hontiveros said Wang, in his application for naturalization, did not disclose that he is a junket operator to the Nine Dynasty. The opposition lawmaker flagged this as alarming, pointing out that if junket is legal, it wouldn’t be hidden to the public.
READ: Hontiveros opposes Filipino citizenship for Li Duan Wang over Pogo ties
Apart from this, Hontiveros also disclosed that Wang has multiple taxpayer identification numbers which goes against the country’s policy.
The opposition lawmaker sounded the alarm over Wang’s affiliation to the Philippine Jinjiang Yu Shi Association, which is believed to be related to the united front of the Communist Party of China.
At present, the bill only needs President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’ signature for a Filipino citizenship to be granted to Wang.