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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lost in translation? Zubiri clarifies Chinese envoy meant PH could possibly be blacklisted over POGO

Lost in translation? Zubiri clarifies Chinese envoy meant PH could possibly be blacklisted over POGO

Published Oct 11, 2022 11:08 pm

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said on Tuesday, October 11 that Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian did not categorically state that the Philippines is already blacklisted by China as part of their bid to protect their citizens from illegal activities and being harmed.

Zubiri made the statement after the Chinese embassy issued a clarification regarding Huang’s “tourism blacklist” remarks.

“During our meeting with Ambassador Huang, the tone of his statement was that the Philippines is already being watched as a tourist hotspot and have been warning their countrymen of possible crimes that could happen to them due to POGO,” Zubiri said when sought to respond to the Chinese embassy statement.

“This statement was done during our meeting of which Sen. (Sherwin) Gatchalian and Sen. (Robin) Padilla were present at that time. Conferring today with Sen. Gatchalian, we both concurred that that was the message being conveyed by the good Ambassador,” he said.

“Maybe it was lost in translation and what the good Ambassador meant was we could be possibly blacklisted as he mentioned they do that to countries who promote gambling for their countrymen,” he pointed out.

But he insisted that the word blacklist “came from the good Ambassador and not from the Senators.”

“So truly there is a strong possibility that we are either already in the list or could be added on that list if POGOs continue to proliferate in our country,” he stressed.

“Can we risk the tremendous loss on tourism if that indeed happens? Checking the transcripts of our discussions indeed that was the overlying message being told to us by the Good Ambassador,” he said.

Zubiri, nonetheless, said the Senate respects the statement of the Chinese embassy.

“We respect the statement he (Huang) made today as one of careful diplomacy as I’m sure he does not want to raise any diplomatic alarm bells when it comes to this matter,” he said.

“However his message was loud and clear: one, POGOs are totally illegal in China, and those promoting it will be arrested; two, their government is asking us to stop hosting this activity and three it could affect tourism potentials if this activities continue,” he further said.

“Again, it was the ambassador who said the tourism blacklist. Not any one of us. As he discussed how it could affect tourism. So maybe he meant future tense and not present tense,” he added.

“I guess the best question to ask the ambassador is if countries that heavily promote gambling for its compatriots on physical or online platforms could be blacklisted as tourism spots for their people?” the Senate leader emphasized.

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