China urges Philippines to shut offshore gambling firms

MANILA: China urged the Philippines on Friday (June 14) to stamp out offshore gambling, an online industry it described as a "social ill" encouraging crimes such as kidnapping, human trafficking and murder.

Senior Philippine government officials have expressed concerns about the continued presence of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo), several of which are run by Chinese companies. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said last month they might pose a national security risk and a senator has put forward a bill to outlaw them, but their fate is currently unclear.