The father of the Chinese national who operated a hotel in Lapu-Lapu City, where an illegal POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations) hub was raided, is found to have possessed an identification (ID) card which indicated he is an alleged consultant of the City Government of Lapu-Lapu.

Zhao Shou Qi, the father of Zhao Long, the registered business owner of Tourist Garden Hotel in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City, has an ID card bearing the designation of consultant on Chinese Business Promotions at the City Mayor’s Office.

Earlier on September 6, 2024, in a post, Mayor Junard Chan denied Zhao’s involvement in any affairs of the city government, citing that the ID is fake. 

“Gusto lang nako ipahibalo sa tanan nga dakong fake ang nakumpiska nga ID ni Mr. Zhao sulod sa Tourist Garden Hotel. Sa panahon karon, dali ra kaayo ang pagpeke og ID. Makaya gani sa uban ang paghimo og peke nga driver’s license o bisan passport nga duol ra kaayu sa original maong ang ID ni Mr. Zhao dakong fake ug dili kini gikan sa City Hall,” Chan said in a post on his official Facebook page. 

Later in the day, he pointed out, in an interview with GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak, that consultants are not issued City Hall IDs. 

“Wala gyud nay ID nga i-issue. Kon hire-on tika as consultant, maghimo ta og Contract of Service.  Kon atong i-connect sa gihimo ni Alice Guo, nahimo man gani nila ang birth certificate, nahimo man gani nila ang passport. How much more kon ang ID ang buhaton. Bisan kinsa siguro makabuhat og ID,” Chan said. 

The mayor also said that the Local Government Unit of Lapu-Lapu City does not have a foreign national for a consultant. 

Atty. Mario Calvo, Human Resource Department chief, said that while Zhao’s card resembles an old City Hall ID, the city government has not hired a foreigner as consultant. 

Atty. Calvo showed a list of 15 city consultants who are all Filipinos. The list does not also include a consultancy on “Chinese business promotions.”

“Based on the list, wala gyud mi consultant nga Chinese national ever since the mayor started his term,” Calvo said.

The mayor, however, confirmed that Zhao has been a donor of various items especially during the pandemic such as protective clothing or personal protection equipment (PPE), computer sets, solar lights, among others; and that he has known Zhao only as the president of a certain Lapu-Lapu Philippines Tourism Ethnic Chinese Guild Hall Corporation. 

“Wala man siguroy dautan kon modawat ta og mga donasyon, as long as makita nato nga they do business in Lapu-Lapu, in 2019, wala pa ta na-mayor, naghimo sila, maayo ang ilang negosyo,” Chan further said.

Prior to the transport of 169 foreign nationals to Manila on board a C130 plane on September 4, 2024, GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak tried to reach a comment from Zhao Shou Qi, but he kept mum instead.