China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Monday briefing that it was concerned about the Chinese residents who were detained last week in the Philippines over taking part in the provision of illegal online gambling operations and immigration violations.
On Friday, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration raided Fontana Leisure Parks & Casino, a hotel and casino resort located in Clark Field, a former US air base, not far from the country’s capital. More than 1,200 Chinese citizens were detained for allegedly working as call center agents for an illegal online casino.
Failing to produce the necessary papers, the arrested individuals were also found out to have been working in the Philippines illegally. According to media reports, most of those detained were only carrying tourist visas.
Commenting on the Friday arrests, Jose Carlito Licas, Chief of the Bureau of Immigration’s Fugitive Search Unit, said that there was evidence that the Chinese residents were indeed working at the time the raid took place. The official further noted that they would be charged properly and would have a deportation order issued against them.
Although no exact information was given regarding the charges, these are believed to include working for an illegal online gambling operation and “engaging in gainful occupation” without having obtained the necessary papers.
Online gambling is not illegal in the Philippines but is subject to numerous regulations and restrictions. What is more, the provision of iGaming services is set to face further limitations, following a crackdown launched by President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this year. After being sworn into office, President Duterte declared war on different activities representing social ills, with online gambling falling victim to his clampdown.
The Chinese Ministry of Finance said in its Monday briefing that it had turned to Philippine officials, requesting that individuals with proper legal identification be released.
It is believed that the recent arrests will mar the warming relationship between China and the Philippines. The two countries have long been involved in a bitter conflict related to territorial claims in the South China Sea. Unlike his predecessors, President Duterte showed open-mindedness and willingness to dialogue with his Chinese counterparts, which has yielded positive developments in their relations.
