Chinese embassy urges Philippines to ban POGOs

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) should be outlawed as they have become havens for various crimes, China's embassy in Manila said Friday.

“Ample evidence shows that POGO breeds serious crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, human trafficking, and murder. POGO is detrimental to both Philippine and Chinese interests and images, as well as China-Philippines relations,” the embassy said in a statement.

“The Chinese government is committed to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens. We appeal to the Philippines to ban POGO at an early date so as to root out this social ill,” it added.

The statement came following the raid on a POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, earlier this month, which has prompted calls for a Senate investigation.

During the raid, more than 150 foreigners were rescued, including Chinese, Malaysian, Burmese, and Vietnamese citizens. Some of those who were rescued were torture and kidnapping victims.

Further, the Chinese embassy said that Beijing does not tolerate any forms of gambling, noting that the Philippines and China have cracked down on several illegal activities together in the past.

“The Chinese government strictly cracks down on Chinese citizens engaging in gambling business abroad, including POGO,” the embassy said.

“In recent years, the Chinese and Philippine law enforcement agencies have maintained close communication and cooperation and conducted multiple joint operations to bring down cross-border gambling and telecom fraud,” it added. “Since 2018, nearly 3,000 Chinese citizens implicated in the cases have been repatriated with the joint efforts of both sides.”

In 2023, the Chinese government helped the Philippines shut down five POGO hubs and repatriate nearly 1,000 Chinese citizens, the embassy said.

Recent raids at POGO hubs have prompted debates among government officials over the potential harm these enterprises pose to national security and the possibility of banning them.

Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy said that they “firmly oppose any baseless accusation and smearing against China in connection with POGO.” —VBL, GMA Integrated News