38 Chinese held for illegal gambling

MANILA, Philippines -  Thirty-eight more Chinese men were arrested yesterday for alleged illegal online gambling at the Bataan Freeport Zone (BFZ).

Jose Carlitos Licas, Bureau of Immigration-fugitive search unit head, said the suspects, whose passports were cancelled by the Chinese embassy, would be brought to the BI detention center and deported.

On Tuesday, 17 Chinese men were held also for illegal gambling at the freeport.

The BI conducted the raids in coordination with China police attaché Senior Superintendent Fu Yun Fei.

However, Emmanuel Pineda, chairman and administrator of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), denied that the Chinese citizens were engaged in illegal gambling.

Pineda said BI agents and Fu entered the premises of Grand Innovasia Concepts Corp., a business process outsourcing company, without coordinating with AFAB officials.

 “We don’t harbor criminals…There is no irregularity or cover-up in their employment as far as we are concerned,” Pineda told The STAR.

In November, the BI arrested 1,316 illegal Chinese workers in an online gambling facility at the Fontana Leisure Park in Clark Field, Pampanga that is  owned by gaming tycoon Jack Lam.