By Liza Soriano
Senator Risa Hontiveros has urged Malacañang to impose a ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) to safeguard the national security of the country.
During a hearing on the proliferation of scam hubs in the Philippines, the senator expressed concerns about government identification cards (such as TIN ID, PhilHealth ID, Alien Certificate of Registration, Alien Employment Permit, and Police Clearance ID) that were fraudulently obtained for Chinese nationals employed by Smart Web Technology, a recently raided company in Pasay City.
“It seems that even without waiting in line, the Chinese are being issued IDs. They use these IDs as a means to become legal residents in the Philippines and acquire a Philippine passport,” remarked Hontiveros.
“The more painful question is: Do they have accomplices within government agencies? Considering our ongoing dispute in the West Philippine Sea, it is alarming that we are granting unfettered access to our country to Chinese citizens through these POGO hubs,” added the lawmaker.
“The President should already ban POGO. If he genuinely wants to defend our country against those who disrespect our sovereignty, he should include the entire online gambling industry in the entities being expelled from our territory.”
Hontiveros then raised concerns about the issuance of birth certificates in the Philippines to Chinese nationals, which they subsequently use to apply for Philippine passports.
“Why do these Chinese individuals need to falsify their nationality to become Filipino citizens? If their only motive is to work, they can do so by applying for alien employment permits,” the lady lawmaker stressed.
(ai/mnm)
