CEBU CITY — A foreigner arrested during a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) raid was found with an identification card (ID) issued by the Lapu-Lapu City government. This sparked controversy over his alleged connection with the local government. Authorities revealed that Shouqi Zhao, owner of the Tourist Garden Hotel in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City, was carrying an ID that identified him as a consultant for Chinese Business Promotions under the Office of the Mayor of Lapu-Lapu City. However, on September 6, Mayor Junard Chan denied any official ties between Zhao and his office, dismissing the authenticity of the ID. He hinted that the ID may have been fabricated, noting that it appeared to be made of plastic and can be produced without much difficulty. No employment records Chan said that the city has no records of Zhao's employment as a consultant, adding that only government employees are issued such IDs. Mario Dennis Calvo, head of the City Human Resource Management and Development Office, confirmed that while the design of the ID resembled those released during the mayor's first term, this cannot automatically authenticate Zhao's employment or connection with the mayor's office. Zhao's alleged role as a consultant was further questioned when Chan clarified that the hiring of consultants must be approved by the city council. While Zhao had previously donated computers to city hall and solar lights to Olango Island, Chan acknowledged that their relationship had changed after Zhao became involved in illegal activities. Chan added that although the local government had initially welcomed Zhao as a businessman, the connection ended when it became clear that Zhao was engaged in illegal operations. Zhao, who also serves as president of the Lapu-Lapu Chinese Guild, a local group of Chinese business people, was among 169 foreigners arrested during the raid. The operation, conducted by multiple government agencies on August 31, revealed that Zhao's Tourist Garden Hotel was being used as a hub for illegal POGO activities and online scams. Following the raid, the mayor ordered the immediate closure of the hotel and the several businesses operating within its premises. Chan said that the city government had previously rejected applications for POGO operations and had not issued any permits for such ventures in Lapu-Lapu City. The raid — which was carried out by the National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Immigration and other agencies — also revealed human trafficking operations, with 169 foreigners rescued, mostly Indonesians, Chinese and Burmese. Investigations into the illegal activities at the hotel are ongoing. Freeze assets The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc), meanwhile, ordered the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to secure a court order to freeze all assets connected to the illegal operations. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who chairs Paocc, signed the memorandum on September 4, instructing AMLC executive director Matthew David to apply for a freeze order or provisional asset preservation order. The order covers the entire Tourist Garden Hotel complex, which includes 13 buildings, along with 12 vehicles linked to the illegal POGO activities. Authorities aim to prevent further operations while investigations are ongoing. This is in accordance with Republic Act 9160, which aims to combat money laundering by requiring financial institutions to report suspicious transactions and allowing authorities to freeze assets suspected of being involved in illegal activities. This crackdown aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive during his third State of the Nation Address in July, where he ordered the wind down of all POGO operations by the end of the year.
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