Philippine Senate approves citizenship for Chinese national linked to POGO
The Philippine Senate has approved a bill granting citizenship to Chinese national Li Duan Wang, who has alleged ties to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The measure, House Bill No. 8839, was passed during a plenary session with 19 senators voting in favour, one opposed, and no abstentions. The sole dissenting vote came from Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, who expressed serious concerns about the implications of granting citizenship to Wang.
In July 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned all POGO operations in the Philippines. In December, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, filed Bill 2868, also known as the “Anti-POGO Act of 2024”, which aims to permanently put an end to all POGOs in the country.
Allegations of omitted information
Hontiveros highlighted what she described as troubling aspects of Wang’s background. She raised concerns about his undisclosed role as a junket operator associated with Nine Dynasty Casino, a prominent POGO entity previously scrutinised in Senate investigations. According to Hontiveros, Wang failed to disclose this connection in his citizenship application, raising questions about transparency. She argued that if such activities were lawful, secrecy would not be needed.
Links to Chinese organisations
Another point of contention was Wang’s affiliation with the Philippine Jinjiang Yu Shi Association, which has been linked to the United Front of the Communist Party of China. Hontiveros suggested that this association, combined with Wang’s business connections, warranted further scrutiny before granting him Filipino citizenship. She drew parallels to past cases where foreign nationals allegedly exploited their Filipino status to engage in questionable activities, warning against repeating such mistakes.
Call for rigorous examination
Hontiveros emphasised that granting citizenship is not a routine administrative process but a legislative act with long-term implications. She stressed that the government has a responsibility to thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of applicants, particularly when red flags emerge. Hontiveros clarified that while she was not declaring Wang guilty of any crime, the concerns surrounding his application should be sufficient grounds for further examination rather than immediate approval.
Broader implications for policy
This decision comes when the role of foreign nationals in sensitive sectors, including gaming and business, is under increased scrutiny in the Philippines. Critics argue that the Senate’s move to approve Wang’s citizenship highlights potential lapses in the evaluation of applications for naturalisation. For some, it raises broader questions about the integrity of processes meant to safeguard national interests.
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