A suspended mayor of a tiny town in the Philippines is wanted for offences related to the offshore casino sector, according to Philippine officials.  Legislators have voiced concerns that the sector is complicit in Beijing's broader plan to undermine American security.
 Quarterly gaming revenue in the Philippines
 The offshore gaming business in the Philippines is allegedly being infiltrated by Chinese companies, according to certain lawmakers.  They assert that China is attempting to weaken national security through the use of a "Trojan horse" tactic.

 Many POGOs in the Philippines are managed by Chinese nationals, and they have a history of involvement in criminal activities such as internet fraud, abduction, torture, and even murder.

 Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) replaced POGOs last autumn.  The regulator is attempting to differentiate between legitimate and illegal operators by using the new term.  However, the business continues to face demands for a ban.  A small-town mayor was accused in crimes relating to POGO in March, and the calls intensified after that.

 Eight hundred sixty-eight employees, thought to be victims of human trafficking, were released during a raid on a POGO facility in Bamban, Tarlac, on March 13.  Along with the heavy machinery and motorcycles, they took 46 vehicles, nine villas, and €89,025 in cash.  Zun Yuan Technology Inc.'s facility was situated on property that was partially owned by Alice Guo, the mayor of Bamban.

 It was then discovered during an investigation that Guo had 36 bank accounts that received billions of pesos.  The offshore business allegedly received funding from "a big portion of the money came from China," according to Senator Win Gatchalian, a long-time critic of POGO.  Since then, Guo's accounts have been put on hold.

 Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese passport holder, and the mayor of the Philippines may be the same person, according to a separate inquiry.  Same fingerprints, both of them.

 The mayor, who was elected in 2022 and suspended during the raid, was described by president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as "unknown" after the incident.  "Her origin is a mystery to us.  We are conducting this investigation in collaboration with the Bureau of Immigration due to concerns regarding her citizenship.

 Things get more complex
 Guo was ordered to be arrested by the Philippine Senate last week after she did not appear for the second hearing in the criminal case.  The attorney representing Guo, however, asserts that her client was too traumatised by "massive cyber-bullying and humiliation" to make up to the hearing.

 Conflict between China and the Philippines over disputed territory in the South China Sea is setting the stage for this drama.  During Rodrigo Duterte's presidency in the Philippines, diplomatic ties between the two countries improved.  Xi Jinping, the president of China, was later accused of cosying up to him.  However, Marcos's attitude in favour of the United States has severed ties.

 The presence of POGO operations in close proximity to military and police installations in Quezon City, Pasay City, Taguig City, and Manila has raised concerns among Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.  "Our concerned authorities should conduct a crackdown on these illegal entities" in response to reports of 250 others operating without licenses, he said.

 Undersecretary of defence Romeo Brawner Jr. stated that "a perimeter for espionage" is created by the "strategic locations of POGOs" close to the nation's capital.

 "A Trojan horse that can stage a surprise attack in the Philippines" is what security expert Chester Cabalza has described POGOs as.

 Claiming that POGOs should be banned immediately
 The head of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), Alejandro Tengco, admitted that the regulator may have been perceived by criminals as "a bit lenient in the past."  They sneaked in undetected by Pagcor, who had no idea they were up to no good in their illegal dealings.

 He went on to say that the regulator is currently collaborating with law enforcement to root out and punish space criminals.  In June, while raids on illicit locations exposed criminal activities, Pagcor stood up for legitimate POGOs.

 "Immediate ban" on offshore operations is what Gatchalian has asked, clearly unimpressed.  "The industry has brought up significant national security concerns that need to be addressed quickly and with a strong political will," he added, "on top of the horrific crimes that have been linked to POGOs."

 Secretary of Defence Gilberto Teodoro concurs.  A person's financial situation, country ratings, and society can be corrupted by syndicated criminal operations, he added.

 "Our political, economic, social and peace and order fabric" could be under attack if Beijing is backing illicit POGOs, in his opinion.  To weaken an opponent, it is best to sow discord in its homeland.