Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — In the past weeks, a Chinese national’s name has been linked to an estafa case, bribery allegations involving the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the House of Representatives, and even an illegal gambling operation in the Philippines.
But who is Wang Bo? And what has the Department of Justice (DOJ) uncovered about him so far?
According to a statement released by the Juisan Nongken Public Security Bureau to the DOJ, 31-year-old Wang Bo was listed as a fugitive in May 2014 and was declared wanted for arrest by the People’s Procuratorate of Juisan Nongken in July 2014 for operating an illegal business in the Philippines.
Juisan Nongken Public Security Bureau Director Shi Gui Qiu described Wang as “the key player of the ‘skybet’ networking gambling company.”
Like his business associates, Wang used China-issued bank cards to fund an illegal casino operation in Manila. His relatives also assisted him in getting bank cards for skybet.
From the Philippines, Wang would instruct his partners and relatives to “transfer and launder” the money he needed from China, Shi Gui Qiu added.
For violating Item 2 and Articles 225 and 303 of the “Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China,” the security bureau will be sending Wang to the Jiusan Nongken detention house on his arrest.
Wang was set to be deported by Philippine government, but his deportation was cancelled due to a P3-million estafa case that was filed against him by a certain Jose Chua.
Wang’s name again surfaced when allegations of giving both the BI and the House of Representatives hundreds of millions in bribe money were reported.
Wang supposedly bribed the BI and the House of Representatives “to secure the cancellation of his deportation orders and to ensure the immediate passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).”
While the Chinese national could easily be linked to an immigration case, some journalists are wondering why Wang Bo would be interested in the BBL at all.
The DOJ, on the other hand, has been conducting investigations on the matter.
Wang Bo appeared before lawmakers on Tuesday (June 16) during a House probe on his alleged crimes.
Related: Wang Bo addresses bribery allegations in House probe
CNN Philippines’ Fiona Nicolas and Mandy Dalawangbayan contributed to this report.
