China blacklists PH as tourism destination over crimes related to POGOs

The Chinese government put the Philippines in its blacklist of tourist destinations amid the incidents of kidnapping and abuse related to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs), Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Tuesday.

“Ambassador Huang said that the Philippines now is part of a blacklist of tourist sites because they do not know if a tourist will be joining POGO operations and they don’t know if their nationals who go to the Philippines will be safe from illegal activities being done by the triad, by the syndicates operating POGOs,” Zubiri said during the Senate ways and means committee hearing on POGOs on October 11.

“They may be kidnapped, mistaken for POGO operators. That’s the reason why there’s been a significant drop in Chinese tourists. By the way, they are the largest number of tourists pre-pandemic,” he added.

Zubiri said this was relayed to him by Chinese Ambassador Juang Xilian during the latter’s courtesy call in the Senate.

According to Zubiri, the envoy had reiterated the Chinese government’s official position on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) which is now being investigated by the Senate.

The Chinese government forbids all types of gambling, including POGO and internet gambling, whereas Philippine law permits POGO activities.

Furthermore, the ambassador noted that, in light of their own experience, it was impossible to regulate online transactions, which is why they chose to completely outlaw online gambling as well.

Huang, according to Zubiri, also indicated that Chinese POGO owners and operators are likely to be involved in organized crime and illicit activity, making them sought in China.