Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced an immediate ban on Chinese-run online gambling operations, accusing them of engaging in criminal activities such as financial scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnappings, and murder. This decision affects over 400 gambling outfits in the Philippines, which employ thousands of Chinese and Southeast Asian nationals. The crackdown, supported by Beijing, aims to address the exploitation and criminal conduct associated with these operations.
During his state-of-the-nation address, Marcos highlighted the need to halt these operations due to their severe violations of the law. He directed the gaming agency to shut down the gambling outfits by the end of the year and urged labor officials to find alternative employment for displaced Filipino workers. The announcement received significant applause in the House of Representatives.
Marcos's speech also touched on broader national security concerns, including efforts to strengthen the Philippines' defensive capabilities and build security alliances to protect territorial interests in the South China Sea. He emphasized resolving disputes through diplomacy and maintaining the country's sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, a contested region in the South China Sea.
In a related development, Philippine senators ordered the arrest of Alice Guo, a town mayor in Tarlac province, for failing to appear at public hearings regarding her alleged involvement in a large online gambling complex and accusations of fraudulently hiding her Chinese nationality. Guo has denied any wrongdoing but has been suspended from her post, and her financial assets have been frozen.
Marcos also addressed domestic issues, including high food and electricity costs, poverty, and low wages. He reiterated that his administration's anti-drug campaign aimed at curbing illegal activities without resorting to the brutal methods used by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, whose drug war led to thousands of deaths and is being investigated by the International Criminal Court.
On the international front, Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to resolving disputes with China peacefully. Recent confrontations in the South China Sea, particularly at the Second Thomas Shoal, have heightened tensions, with incidents involving Chinese forces boarding and damaging Philippine navy boats. Despite these tensions, the Philippine government announced a deal with China aimed at reducing confrontations in the contested waters, though details of the agreement have not been disclosed.
