In time for the official’s visit to Manila, Senator Risa Hontiveros urged Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to cooperate with the Philippine government on a full crackdown on Chinese syndicates linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.

Hontiveros made the call on Friday, January 15, the day Wang was to arrive in the country for a two-day official visit.

“China’s foreign minister should cooperate with our government to completely crack down on crime. Kung gaano ‘yung pagka-agresibo nila sa pag-aangkin sa West Philippine Sea, sana agresibo din sila sa pag-aresto ng kanilang mga kriminal dito,” Hontiveros said.

(They should be as aggressive in arresting their criminals here, as they are in claiming the West Philippine Sea.)

Hontiveros was specifically referring to Chinese syndicates involved in the smuggling of illegal vaccines and those with ties to the local POGO industry.

“Perhaps the foreign minister can help our Department of Foreign Affairs in resolving issues affecting our local POGO industry. We need to stop these syndicates before they become more comfortable with the local terrain and start victimizing more Filipinos,” she said.

Hontiveros, who had led the Senate probe into POGO-related crimes in the Philippines, also said: “Dapat ma-aresto at ma-deport na ang mga Chinese na kriminal sa ating bansa (Chinese criminals in our country should be arrested and deported). Our country is not a crime scene for Chinese.”

She said that just this week, police arrested 7 Chinese and a Filipino allegedly involved in the kidnap, rape, and murder of Chinese POGO workers in San Pedro, Laguna.

“Isa lang yan sa napakaraming krimeng dulot ng POGO industry. Ilegal nga yang POGO sa China, so bakit dito sa atin tuloy-tuloy pa rin (That’s just one of the many crimes stemming from the PGO industry. POGOs are illegal in China, so why are they allowed to continue operations here)?” the senator said.

The senator had earlier challenged the Bureau of Immigration to track down and arrest more illegal Chinese workers, after over 300 Chinese employees were arrested over illegal online gambling activities in Tarlac. – Rappler.com