PH, China join hands vs. illegal gambling, telecom fraud

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is accompanied by People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping inside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 25, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — Beijing and Manila are working closely to combat illegal online gambling and telecommunication fraud in the Philippines, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said on Sunday.

“The Chinese Government always requires Chinese citizens overseas to abide by local laws and regulations and not to work illegally in foreign countries,” it said in a statement.

It said the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has repeatedly issued consular reminders and has been keeping close communications with the Philippine government in this regard.

“The Chinese side would like to continue to work closely with the Philippines to combat such crimes as telecommunications fraud, illegal online-gambling, money-laundering, illegal employment, kidnapping, extortion, torture, murder etc. so as to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of nationals of the two countries, and to promote the China-Philippines friendship and cooperation,” it added.

Reports earlier said China had threatened to cancel the passports of Chinese nationals involved with Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) if they did not return home.

The Embassy did not specifically say it cancelled the passports but confirmed that some of its citizens have already been barred from exiting China over telecommunication fraud.

“In order to crack down on cross-border telecommunication fraud crimes, the Ministry of Public Security of China has obtained a list of Chinese nationals suspected of committing long-term telecommunication fraud crimes abroad, who are classified as the persons prohibited from exiting China according to the Exit-Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China,” it said.

It added such operations are aimed at Chinese nationals who have committed telecommunications fraud crimes in different countries.