Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Wednesday defended his decision to vote in favor of a bill granting Philippine citizenship to a Chinese national allegedly involved in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

According to Ejercito, he did his part by conducting research before voting affirmatively on the bill granting Li Duan Wang, also known as Mark Ong, Philippine citizenship.

“Before I signed, I checked with PAOCTF (Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force) Chief Gilbert Cruz, who said that Mark Ong is a long-time junket operator for Casinos and not POGO that is the information that they have,” he told reporters in a text message.

On Monday, the Senate passed the bill that originated from the House of Representatives in a 19-to-1 vote during its third and final reading.

According to Ejercito, based on the information he has, Wang has been living in the Philippines for several years, while his children are enrolled in exclusive Chinese schools in Manila, which he described as “strict and not typically accepting transferees.”

“He is likewise an active member of both the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Filipino-Chinese Chamber,” he said.

He continued: “If he was here for just a few years then he might really be part of the POGO group that entered during its peak, but he has been residing in Manila for several years.”

Ejercito also noted that Wang is a “long-time member of the Association of Fire Volunteer Chiefs of the Philippines.”

He added: “He is an active fire brigade volunteer, according to research.”

‘Red flags’

Only Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros voted against the measure granting Philippine citizenship to Wang, citing numerous “red flags” about him. 

In her explanation of a “no” vote, Hontiveros accused Wang of hiding crucial information from Congress.

“Liduan Wang is a junket operator and a partner of Duanren Wu, the alleged big boss of the POGO that was raided in Porac, Pampanga,” she said.

“His business is located in the same building as the business of She Zhijiang, a confessed Chinese spy. He is connected to the Philippine Jinjiang Yuxi Association, which is said to be part of the United Front work of the Communist Party of China,” she added.

She continued: “In official documents he submitted to the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), he lied and presented himself as a Filipino named Mark Co Ong.”

Hontiveros clarified that she was not judging Wang as guilty of any crimes but stressed that the presence of these multiple red flags warranted a more thorough investigation into him.

“In my firm belief, what the government should do is investigate Liduan Wang — not pass a law that treats him as one of us,” she said.