Gatchalian says no proof Li Duan Wang has POGO links | ABS-CBN
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Gatchalian says no proof Li Duan Wang has POGO links
Gatchalian says no proof Li Duan Wang has POGO links
MANILA — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said there was no proof or evidence of Li Duan Wang's links to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators as he was cleared by various security agencies and passed all the requirements for naturalization before the Senate approved a bill granting him Filipino citizenship.
MANILA — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said there was no proof or evidence of Li Duan Wang's links to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators as he was cleared by various security agencies and passed all the requirements for naturalization before the Senate approved a bill granting him Filipino citizenship.
According to Gatchalian, they requested for more documents to establish whether Li had links to POGOs, and documents from security agencies did not show any information to support the allegations.
According to Gatchalian, they requested for more documents to establish whether Li had links to POGOs, and documents from security agencies did not show any information to support the allegations.
"Humingi sila ng requirements from NICA, from the National Intelligence Coordinating Council, from the National Security Council, they also requested information from Interpol. So this is beyond the requirements na kasi meron niyang ganitong aspeto. May mga certification naman itong tatlong ahensya na wala silang nakikitang hindi maganda at wala ang negative reports from these three agencies. Kaya based on those reports ng committee, naapapprobahan yung citizenship niya," Gatchalian said.
"Humingi sila ng requirements from NICA, from the National Intelligence Coordinating Council, from the National Security Council, they also requested information from Interpol. So this is beyond the requirements na kasi meron niyang ganitong aspeto. May mga certification naman itong tatlong ahensya na wala silang nakikitang hindi maganda at wala ang negative reports from these three agencies. Kaya based on those reports ng committee, naapapprobahan yung citizenship niya," Gatchalian said.
“So ang importante kasi dito yung ebidensya at proof na meron siyang direct links dito sa mga POGO at sinasabing POGO. And based on sa information ng committee at based sa investigation ng committee, wala silang nakitang direct links. At proof, wala rin silang nakitang proof,” he added.
“So ang importante kasi dito yung ebidensya at proof na meron siyang direct links dito sa mga POGO at sinasabing POGO. And based on sa information ng committee at based sa investigation ng committee, wala silang nakitang direct links. At proof, wala rin silang nakitang proof,” he added.
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Senator Risa Hontiveros was the sole dissenting vote last Monday when the Senate approved House Bill 8839 on third and final reading, 19-1. Hontiveros had cited those alleged links to POGO's as red flags in voting against the measure.
Senator Risa Hontiveros was the sole dissenting vote last Monday when the Senate approved House Bill 8839 on third and final reading, 19-1. Hontiveros had cited those alleged links to POGO's as red flags in voting against the measure.
Gatchalian stressed that Li underwent stringent screening and vetting.
Gatchalian stressed that Li underwent stringent screening and vetting.
"Actually, nung in-evaluate ng team ko ito nung una, tinignan namin yung submissions ng House kasi dumaan to sa Lower House at umakyat to sa Senado. So in-aprubahan ng Lower House to, base sa mga dokumentong sinubmit, ang importante naman dyan, unang-una, walang no derogatory reports, walang masamang report tungkol sa tao. At pangalawa, nakumpleto niya lahat ng mga requirements. Nung sinubmit to sa Senado, yung Senado nag-evaluate ulit. At tinignan ulit yung dokumento at tinignan rin namin yung mga dokumento,” Gatchalian said.
"Actually, nung in-evaluate ng team ko ito nung una, tinignan namin yung submissions ng House kasi dumaan to sa Lower House at umakyat to sa Senado. So in-aprubahan ng Lower House to, base sa mga dokumentong sinubmit, ang importante naman dyan, unang-una, walang no derogatory reports, walang masamang report tungkol sa tao. At pangalawa, nakumpleto niya lahat ng mga requirements. Nung sinubmit to sa Senado, yung Senado nag-evaluate ulit. At tinignan ulit yung dokumento at tinignan rin namin yung mga dokumento,” Gatchalian said.
"Nakita ko yung mga dokumento. In fact, I went through it twice pa. Just to make sure wala akong nakitang, let's put it this way, wala akong nakitang hindi compliant doon sa requirements ng kanyang citizenship. So, in other words, compliant siya doon sa kaniyang mga citizen sa requirements ng kaniyang sorry sa requirements ng kanyang naturalization. Yun ang nakita ko,” Gatchalian also said.
"Nakita ko yung mga dokumento. In fact, I went through it twice pa. Just to make sure wala akong nakitang, let's put it this way, wala akong nakitang hindi compliant doon sa requirements ng kanyang citizenship. So, in other words, compliant siya doon sa kaniyang mga citizen sa requirements ng kaniyang sorry sa requirements ng kanyang naturalization. Yun ang nakita ko,” Gatchalian also said.
Gatchalian said that based on submissions, Li has long been in the Philippines.
Gatchalian said that based on submissions, Li has long been in the Philippines.
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"In the same token, base dito sa dokumento ni Wang, matagal na siya dito, nag-aral yung mga anak niya dito sa local schools, at matagal na siyang nag-nenegosyo dito. At base sa mga dokumento, wala naman derogatory reports tungkol sa kanya. Walang issue of moral turpitude rin tungkol sa kanya.So, in-endorso ng House, in-endorso rin ng Senate pero the Senate Committee on Justice through Senator Tolentino went an extra mile. Kumuha pa sila ng certifications from the different security agencies to make sure na wala nga ang links sa mga ganitong sinasabi,” Gatchalian added.
"In the same token, base dito sa dokumento ni Wang, matagal na siya dito, nag-aral yung mga anak niya dito sa local schools, at matagal na siyang nag-nenegosyo dito. At base sa mga dokumento, wala naman derogatory reports tungkol sa kanya. Walang issue of moral turpitude rin tungkol sa kanya.So, in-endorso ng House, in-endorso rin ng Senate pero the Senate Committee on Justice through Senator Tolentino went an extra mile. Kumuha pa sila ng certifications from the different security agencies to make sure na wala nga ang links sa mga ganitong sinasabi,” Gatchalian added.
While Gatchalian shares Hontiveros' call for caution in granting citizenships, Gatchalian noted that they also have to stick to evidence or else the process may be abused.
While Gatchalian shares Hontiveros' call for caution in granting citizenships, Gatchalian noted that they also have to stick to evidence or else the process may be abused.
"I agree. I agree with her that we have to be very careful, extra careful in fact, sa mga taong may links to criminal syndicates. Not only POGOs, but criminal links to criminal syndicates or links to criminality. But importante rin yung ebidensya. Kasi for example, marami tayong mga ganitong naturalization proceedings. Ayaw natin na mangyari may isang tao galit sa iyo at sasabihin na may link ka sa ganito o may link ka sa ganyan without any evidence, baka maabuso. If that will be the standard and the standard is without any proof or evidence baka maulit to sa iba. Na kung may kagalit ka lang, eh sasabihin na ikaw ay link ka sa ganitong criminality. So unfair naman yun doon sa mga nag-a-apply,” Gatchalian explained.
"I agree. I agree with her that we have to be very careful, extra careful in fact, sa mga taong may links to criminal syndicates. Not only POGOs, but criminal links to criminal syndicates or links to criminality. But importante rin yung ebidensya. Kasi for example, marami tayong mga ganitong naturalization proceedings. Ayaw natin na mangyari may isang tao galit sa iyo at sasabihin na may link ka sa ganito o may link ka sa ganyan without any evidence, baka maabuso. If that will be the standard and the standard is without any proof or evidence baka maulit to sa iba. Na kung may kagalit ka lang, eh sasabihin na ikaw ay link ka sa ganitong criminality. So unfair naman yun doon sa mga nag-a-apply,” Gatchalian explained.
For his part, Senator JV Ejercito shared the same sentiment, stressing they did their research.
For his part, Senator JV Ejercito shared the same sentiment, stressing they did their research.
"Before I signed I checked with PAOCTF Chief Gilbert Cruz who said that Mark Ong, as Li is also known, is a long time junket operator for casinos and not POGO that is the information that they have. Based on information he has been residing in the Philippines for several years now and his children are studying in exclusive Chinese schools Xavier and ICA which are strict and do not usually accept transferees….Also did our research before signing the committee report,” Ejercito said in his own statement.
"Before I signed I checked with PAOCTF Chief Gilbert Cruz who said that Mark Ong, as Li is also known, is a long time junket operator for casinos and not POGO that is the information that they have. Based on information he has been residing in the Philippines for several years now and his children are studying in exclusive Chinese schools Xavier and ICA which are strict and do not usually accept transferees….Also did our research before signing the committee report,” Ejercito said in his own statement.
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