Hontiveros opposes Li Duan Wang's Philippine citizenship bid

Li Duan Wang, a Chinese businessman applying for Filipino citizenship, has faced strong criticism from Senator Risa Hontiveros. She labeled him a “rotten product” of the Philippine offshore gaming operator industry, known as POGO. During a recent Senate hearing, she stated that Wang is an incorporator of New Oriental Club 88 Corporation, a POGO service provider that was shut down in 2019 for legal violations. Despite Hontiveros' objections, the Senate approved a bill for Wang's naturalization with 19 votes in favor and one against. Only Hontiveros opposed the measure, citing concerns over Wang’s past activities. She noted that Wang is linked to Nine Dynasty Casino, a major player in the gaming sector, and accused him of failing to disclose this connection in his citizenship application. Hontiveros also raised alarm over Wang's multiple taxpayer identification numbers, which violate Philippine law. She expressed worries about his ties to the Philippine Jinjiang Yu Shi Association, suspected of connections to the Chinese Communist Party. The bill now awaits President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s signature to finalize Wang's citizenship.