PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vetoed on Friday, April 11, 2025, a proposed measure granting Filipino citizenship to Li Duan Wang, who is being linked to the recently banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo).
In a press conference, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos could not “blindly ignore the alarming and revealing warnings” against Li, whose character and influence are found to be “full of ominous and dark consequences, if not of a clear and present danger.”
“Ayon sa ating Pangulo, ang pagsawalang bahala sa babalang ito ay tila pagsuway sa ating tungkulin sa sambayanang Pilipino. Ang Filipino citizenship ay isang pribilehiyo at hindi ipinamimigay ng basta-basta. Hindi rin ito dapat gawing kasangkapan upang pagbigyan ang pagsulong ng kaduda-dudang interes,” Castro said.
“Sinabi rin ng Pangulo na 'pag tayo ay nagbigay ng Filipino citizenship, higit pa sa mga legal na karapatan ang ating ibinibigay. Binubuksan natin ang buong karangalan ng ating kasaysayan, ang ating lahi at ang ating pamana, kaya dapat ang tumatanggap nito ay sumasailalim din sa mga adhikain ng ating bayan,” she added.
Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier opposed House Bill 8839, which seeks the legislative naturalization of Li and was approved by the Senate in January.
Hontiveros said Li is an incorporator of the New Oriental Club 88, the biggest Pogo service provider, which was ordered closed in 2019 over law violations.
She said the firm amended its articles of incorporation in 2020 to operate like a “special class of BPO” that will serve as a service provider for offshore online gaming. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)