Senate grants Filipino citizenship to Chinese man despite red flags

In a 19-1 vote, the Senate approved House Bill 8839, granting Philippine citizenship to Li Duan Wang despite strong objections from Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros.

Hontiveros raised significant concerns, citing “red flags” in Wang’s background.

“Li Duan Wang is a junket operator and a partner of Duanren Wu, alleged big boss of the raided POGO operation in Porac, Pampanga. His business operates in the same building as She Zhijiang, a self-confessed Chinese spy. He is also linked to the Philippine Jinjiang Yuxi Association, reportedly part of the United Front work of the Communist Party of China. Furthermore, official SEC documents reveal he misrepresented himself as a Filipino under the name Mark Co Ong,” Hontiveros explained.

The senator also questioned the wisdom of granting citizenship to individuals with questionable ties, referencing past cases.

“Have we not learned from the deception of Guo Hua Ping, alias Alice Guo, or Yang Jianxin, alias Tony Yang? Are we still willing to gamble on someone with dubious connections that were concealed from Congress? I am not declaring Li Duan Wang guilty of any crime, Mr. President, but these red flags should be sufficient to deny his application for Filipino citizenship so easily. I firmly believe the government should investigate him — not pass a law to treat him as one of us,” Hontiveros said.

She further underscored the gravity of granting citizenship, likening it to no ordinary application.

“This is not as simple as applying for a driver’s license or a business permit, where a checklist of requirements suffices,” Hontiveros argued.

“What we are discussing here is no less than an act of Congress — a law granting Filipino citizenship to a foreign national. This demands a higher level of rigor, scrutiny, and discernment from legislators. We owe that to the Filipino people. It is our duty to thoroughly examine the history and character of the applicant beyond what he has declared in his own interest,” she added.

Despite her objections, the Senate moved forward with the bill, setting the stage for the finalization of Wang’s Philippine citizenship.