The ongoing arrests of Chinese iGaming workers in the Philippines has won praise from the Chinese Embassy in Manila.
As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, on October 14, 36 more arrests were made at Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs), after which the Chinese workers were deported.
According to the Philippines News Agency, the latest arrests were linked to an August raid by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission on an illegal offshore gaming operation in Pasay City. Those POGO workers also were deported.
In a statement, Chinese Embassy representatives said, “This is the latest step in China-Philippine law enforcement cooperation against POGOs. The Chinese Embassy will continue its support in China-Philippine law enforcement cooperation to safeguard healthy social economic and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.”
The embassy also issued a statement calling on Philippine law enforcement to “take strong measures to crack down on crimes related to POGOs and root out the social ills in a sweeping manner.”
The Beijing government opposes online gambling, cross-border gambling, and gambling of any kind outside Macau, a Chinese special administrative region (SAR) acknowledged as the world’s most profitable casino hub.
“Crimes induced by online gambling harm not only China’s interests and China-Philippine relations, but also the interests of the Philippines,” the embassy statement continued.
“The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines will continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with the Philippine government and law enforcement agencies in this regard, and jointly handle repatriation among other related issues.”
As IAG reported last week, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), the country’s gaming regulator is issuing new licenses to POGO operators as part of a plan to more strictly monitor the industry. The new operators will no longer be known as POGOs, but as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs).
In related news, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is said to be looking into allegations that some of its officers have been working on the side providing security for Chinese POGO operators.
According to local media, former PNP chief Panfilo “Ping” Lacson posted a message on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “The PNP should look into reports that some policemen moonlight as escorts of Chinese POGO operators. This may explain why even during office hours, too many luxury vehicles zig-zag through heavy traffic while motorcycle cops push motorists away to clear their passage. Shameless!”
Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said any officers involved in the work will be charged and dismissed.
