President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vetoed the legislative naturalization of Chinese businessman Li Duan Wang, also known as Mark Ong, despite the Senate’s earlier 19-1 vote in favor of granting him Philippine citizenship.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, the lone dissenting vote, raised serious concerns about Wang’s alleged ties to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), claiming he is an incorporator of the country’s largest POGO service provider. She pointed out multiple “red flags” surrounding his background.
“Li Duan Wang is a junket operator and a partner of Duanren Wu, reportedly the big boss of the POGO hub raided in Porac, Pampanga. His business operates in the same building as that of She Zhijiang, a self-confessed Chinese spy,” Hontiveros said. She also cited Wang’s links to the Philippine Jinjiang Yuxi Association, allegedly connected to China’s United Front.
In official documents submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Wang allegedly misrepresented himself as a Filipino named Mark Co Ong.
“This is not just an application for a driver’s license or a business permit,” Hontiveros stressed. “This is an act of Congress — a law granting Filipino citizenship. It demands thorough scrutiny.”
She referenced past controversies involving foreign nationals like Guo Hua Ping (alias Alice Guo) and Yang Jianxin (alias Tony Yang), warning against granting citizenship to individuals with questionable backgrounds.
