Philippines bans online gambling industry run by Chinese nationals
MANILA, Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. this week banned online gaming operations run by Chinese entities, accusing them of venturing into crimes, including financial scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnappings and murder.
His move to ban the Chinese-run online gambling outfits came amid a crackdown backed by Beijing.The gaming operations of over 400 across the Philippines employ tens of thousands of Chinese and Southeast Asian nationals.
That has led to the shutdown of several sprawling complexes where authorities suspect thousands of Chinese, Vietnamese and other nationals, mainly from Southeast Asia have been illegally recruited and forced to work in dismal conditions.
Announcing the decision during his state-of-the-nation address, Marcos said that the Philippines would press efforts to strengthen its defensive capability by forging security alliances with friendly countries to counter threats to its territorial interests in the South China Sea.
The Philippines has a complicated relationship with China, including significant trade engagements and cooperation against crime. However, they have also had longstanding disputes in the South China Sea.
Philippine senators ordered the arrest of a town mayor Alice Guo in Tarlac province north of Manila after allegations against her were investigated, including her alleged links to a large online gambling complex near her townhall and suspicions that she fraudulently hid her Chinese nationality to be able to run for a public office reserved only for Filipinos.
The mayor denied any wrongdoing but has been suspended from her post with her financial assets ordered frozen. Philippine senators claim the online gambling industry has flourished mainly due to corruption in regulatory agencies and payoffs to local officials.
Marcos ordered the gaming agency to wind down the operations of the gambling outfits by year's end. He asked labor officials to look for alternative jobs for Filipino workers.