Recently, a Chinese tenant living in Makati, Philippines, fell into a situation of suspicion and scrutiny surrounding "illegal POGO activities" after booking a cleaning service through Facebook. Although no illegal activities were ultimately found, the incident reflects the prevailing cautious attitude towards Chinese residents in the Philippines, especially the stigmatization associated with the offshore gambling industry (POGO) which is causing widespread unease and trouble.
On August 23, the tenant scheduled a cleaning service to clean his home. The two computers in his home raised suspicions from the cleaner—despite the fact that he had already ceased working in the POGO industry and had switched to legitimate jobs such as graphic design, he was still reported as a "suspicious person" to the property management. Two days later, SMDC property management and security personnel conducted a sudden raid, demanding that the computer systems be switched to English and thoroughly checking software, browsing history, and even private chat content, a process that lasted several hours. Despite the tenant presenting the landlord's documents and clarifying multiple times, the property management insisted on a thorough investigation, causing him significant psychological stress.
Although the incident ended with "no violations found," it clearly reflects that once labeled with "POGO," Chinese people in the Philippines are easily subjected to reporting and scrutiny. Whether or not they are actually involved in the industry, the daily actions of Chinese nationals can be scrutinized under a magnifying glass, creating a form of implicit bias based on nationality.
What is more worrying is that such baseless accusations and excessive inspections are gradually becoming normalized. Many Chinese citizens with legal residency and legitimate jobs must live under the shadow of potential investigations at any time. A simple report—regardless of the lack of evidence—can disrupt their lives and even bring unpredictable legal risks.
The incident also reveals the social mentality changes in the Philippines under the strict regulation of the POGO industry. As the industry continues to be regulated, foreigners, especially Chinese, are experiencing increasingly strict scrutiny and distrust. How to maintain social order while avoiding stigmatization and indiscriminate suspicion of foreign groups has become an urgent issue for the Philippines to address.
