The Senate of the Philippines has granted Philippine citizenship to Li Duan Wang, a Chinese national linked to a controversial POGO hub in Pampanga—despite concerns raised by Sen. Risa Hontiveros about his alleged connections to criminal activities and Chinese political groups.
With a 19-1 vote, the Senate passed House Bill No. 8839, which allows Wang to take the oath of allegiance and be issued a certificate of naturalization. But Hontiveros strongly opposed the move, warning that the country might be repeating past mistakes.
Hontiveros Raises “Red Flags” on Wang
During deliberations, Hontiveros pointed out multiple “red flags” that Wang allegedly failed to disclose to Congress, including:
- His reported role as a junket operator linked to Duanren Wu, the so-called “big boss” of the POGO hub raided in Porac, Pampanga.
- Business dealings tied to a company linked to confessed Chinese spy She Zhijiang, as exposed in an Al Jazeera documentary.
- Alleged connections to the Communist Party of China via the Jinjiang Yuxi Association, a group reportedly involved in China’s “united front” influence operations.
- A false Filipino identity listed in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), raising concerns about fraud.
“I am not saying that Li Duan Wang is guilty of any crime, but these red flags should have been enough to deny him Philippine citizenship,” Hontiveros said in a fiery speech.
Haven’t We Learned From Alice Guo and Tony Yang?
Hontiveros compared Wang’s case to Alice Guo and Tony Yang, two foreigners who allegedly posed as Filipinos and took advantage of loopholes in the system for personal gain.
“Haven’t we learned from the deception of Guo Hua Ping (Alice Guo) and Yang Jianxin (Tony Yang)? How many more foreigners pretending to be Filipinos will we allow into our system?” she asked.
Concerns Over National Security and Foreign Influence
Hontiveros’ objections echo broader concerns about foreign influence and national security threats tied to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which have been linked to crime, human trafficking, and espionage.
The Senate leadership has yet to issue a response to her objections, and Wang has not provided a statement addressing the allegations.
With tensions high and the government still grappling with the fallout from past citizenship scandals, the approval of Wang’s naturalization raises serious questions: Is the Philippines doing enough to protect its sovereignty from foreign infiltration?
