On March 19, Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed during a Senate hearing that a Chinese businessman, Mr. Wang, who is awaiting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s signature on a naturalization bill, is a key figure in the Philippine offshore gaming (POGO) industry and had previously been shut down by the government for violations.
Hontiveros stated at the hearing that Mr. Wang had been one of the founders of a well-known POGO company as early as 2019, but the company was closed by the government due to regulatory violations.
However, in 2020, the company adjusted its business strategy, amended its corporate charter, and continued to serve offshore gaming operators under the name of a "Special Category BPO" company. In August this year, the company again modified its registration information to extend its corporate lifespan.
Hontiveros questioned, "This is not just a simple business act, but a deliberate means to evade regulation. Does such a background qualify him to become a Filipino citizen?"
Winston Casio, the director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), confirmed that Mr. Wang indeed has connections with the gaming enterprise. Meanwhile, Joel Viado, the director of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), also revealed that Mr. Wang was seen in a building suspected of telecommunications fraud on March 18.
However, Viado added that Mr. Wang was not on the raided floor or inside the involved company at the time, but was in a different area of the same building, and the specifics are still under investigation.
Earlier, both the Philippine House of Representatives and the Senate had passed the bill granting Mr. Wang Filipino citizenship, which is now awaiting President Marcos's decision on whether to sign it into law or exercise his veto power to reject it.
Hontiveros had previously expressed opposition to the bill, pointing out Mr. Wang's close ties to a gaming center in Porac, Pampanga, which was shut down by the government in 2024. She emphasized, "The government should carefully scrutinize the backgrounds of those applying for citizenship to ensure that Filipino citizenship is not abused."
The case is still unfolding, and all sectors are paying attention to President Marcos's final decision.
