Senator Risa Hontiveros of the Philippines has called for increased efforts from China to combat illegal online gambling and scam call centers operated by Chinese criminal syndicates in Southeast Asian countries. The senator, who led an investigation into these operations, emphasized the need for stronger international cooperation to address cybercrime issues.
The illegal gambling industry in the Philippines has been a growing concern since online gambling was legalized in 2016 through the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Since then, the country has become a major hub for online gambling in Asia, particularly targeting Chinese customers.
Hontiveros highlighted the use of forced labor in these operations, echoing concerns raised by the U.N. human rights office. The senator also expressed worries about potential espionage activities, although she acknowledged the lack of concrete evidence linking gambling hubs to Chinese surveillance operations.
The Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry, while a significant source of revenue for the country, has been linked to various crimes, including money laundering and human trafficking. In response to these issues, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a ban on online gambling operations in July 2024, citing violations of Philippine laws and criminal activities.
Hontiveros stated, "China is not doing enough, given her impressive powers that she has not been shy to wield and display on so many fronts." She called for increased regional and international cooperation, particularly in holding social media companies accountable for the misuse of their platforms in these operations.
The Chinese government has reportedly cooperated with Filipino authorities in shutting down illegal operations and rescuing victims. However, the issue extends beyond the Philippines, with lucrative online gambling operations also flourishing in other Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia and Myanmar.
"We would all benefit from more regional and international cooperation in, for example, making the social media companies more accountable for the use and misuse of their products and services, their platforms, for these malign operations."
The growth of the online gambling industry in the Philippines has been attributed to corruption in government regulatory agencies and payoffs to officials. In a recent case, a former mayor of a town in Tarlac province, Alice Guo, was dismissed and arrested for her alleged involvement in an illegal online gambling complex.
The POGO industry has been a source of diplomatic tension between China and the Philippines, with China repeatedly calling for a ban on online gambling targeting its citizens. As of September 2024, the Philippine government continues to grapple with the challenges posed by these illegal operations, balancing economic benefits with social costs and criminal activities.