By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has warned of dire consequences if Filipino citizenship had been given to Chinese entrepreneur Li Duan Wang, saying it may pose “clear and present danger.”
“I am unable to blindly ignore the alarming and revealing warnings raised by our relevant national agencies that find the subject grantee’s character and influence to be full of ominous and dire consequences, if not of a clear and present danger,” Marcos said in his veto message as he rejected Wang’s legislative naturalization.
The Chief Executive’s veto message was read by Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a press briefing.
Castro said Marcos believed that ignoring the warning is negligence of duty since granting Filipino citizenship is a “privilege” that could not be given right away to any person for their own interests.
“Sinabi rin ng Pangulo na kapag tayo ay nagbigay ng Filipino citizenship, higit pa sa mga legal na karapatan ang ating ibinibigay. Binubuksan natin ang buong karangalan ng ating kasaysayan, ang ating lahi, at ang ating pamana (The President also said that when we grant Filipino citizenship, we are giving more than just legal rights. We are opening up the full honor of our history, our race, and our heritage),” she said.
“Kaya dapat ang tatanggap nito ay sumasailalim din sa mga adhikain ng ating bayan (Therefore, the recipient must also be subject to the aspirations of our nation),” Castro added.
Wang, also known as Mark Ong, allegedly has links to Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities and questionable personal records.
He is the alleged operator of the 9 Dynasty junket group, which has shared officers with Rivendell, a POGO hub in Pasay involved in illegal activities.
However, his proposed naturalization was approved by Congress, as he allegedly complied with all legal requirements and has no derogatory records.
Castro stressed that despite Congress’ decision favoring Wang, Marcos is not convinced that the Chinese national deserves to be granted Filipino citizenship.
“Unang-una po, nais ipaalam ng Pangulo na kung may mga kaduda-dudang interes, hindi naman po bingi ang ating Pangulo para dinggin at pakinggan kung ano ‘yung kaniyang mga nakukuhang mga data (First of all, the President wants to say that if there are questionable interests, he is not deaf to listen and look at the data) or facts about supposed to be grantee,” she said.
“At ‘yun lamang po, hindi natin ipamimigay ang Philippine citizenship kung may mga kaduda-dudang interes ‘yung tinatawag na grantee (And that’s all, we will not give away Philippine citizenship if the so-called grantee has dubious interests),” Castro added. (PNA)
