Philippine government vetoes citizenship application allegedly linked to offshore gaming

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr said granting citizenship to Li Duan Wang could pose a “clear and present danger”.

The Philippines.- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr has vetoed a legislative measure that granted Filipino citizenship to the Chinese entrepreneur Li Duan Wang, also known as Mark Ong.

A statement read by Claire Castro, undersecretary of the presidential communications office, during a press conference, said: “I am unable to blindly ignore the alarming and revealing warnings raised by our relevant national agencies that find the subject grantee’s character and influence to be full of ominous and dire consequences, if not of a clear and present danger.”

Castro added: “The President also said that when we grant Filipino citizenship, we are giving more than just legal rights. We are opening up the full honour of our history, our race, and our heritage.”

Duan Wang had been accused of links to Duanren Wu, the alleged mastermind of an offshore gaming operator hub in Porac, Pampanga. Wang is also said to runs the 9 Dynasty junket group, which has links to Rivendell, an offshore gaming operation in Pasay tied to illegal activities. Wang did not include this information in his citizenship application.

Senator Risa Hontiveros previously claimed that Wang represented himself as a Filipino citizen in the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the company Avia International Club, which he didn’t disclose in his naturalisation application.

Philippine senator renews call for swift passage of anti-offshore gaming bill

Senator Risa Hontiveros has called for the quick passing of an anti-offshore gaming bill. A consolidation of five similar bills, the proposal aims to institutionalise the ban on offshore gaming operations ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last November. 

Hontiveros emphasised the need for a regional approach to crack down on transnational scam operations linked to illegal activities. In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, Hontiveros said that as the Philippines closes offshore gaming operator hubs, many were relocating to nearby countries like Cambodia and Myanmar, where scams are already happening.

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