Duterte welcomes gaming investors, airs warning on corrupt practices

President Duterte does not like to gamble but has no plans of stopping legitimate revenuegenerating gaming operations in the country.

The President said he welcomes gaming firms keen on investing or expanding operations in the country, although he urged them not to give in to demands of corrupt government officials.

“Personally I do not gamble. I do not even go to gambling houses. Keep the money coming, no problem,” he said during a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) event at the Manila Hotel last Thursday.

“I can give you the assurance, we welcome you. Pasalamat ako. I thank you for the income that we are earning from the gambling community. Ang akin lang is I want to stress again the point that you can come in, expand, do business peacefully but please avoid graft and corruption whether you are the giver or the receiver,” he said.

Duterte warned he would “make it hard” for the businessmen if they engage in corruption such as giving extortion money to certain officials for favors or special treatment.

He urged them instead to report any corruption case to PAGCOR and promised to “take care of it.”

“Please do not give them the luxury of ‘yung mga extortion, maghingi. All you have to do is just you can call anybody in government,” he said.

He said the businessmen would only be “abetting” corruption in government if they yield to extortion.

“Kung may problema ka even in the locals, huwag kang magbigay [If you have problem with the the locals, don’t give anything]. Kasi kung magkaalaman tayo [Because if I discover it], it will just sour up our relationship,” he said.

“All I have to do is for you to cooperate and I said do not give in to extortionist - be it the police, the BIR, Customs, kasi ‘pag malaman ko [because when I find out], I’ll make it hard for you,” he added.