HONG KONG -- All his bags are packed. Just say the word, and Stanley Ho is ready to leave the Philippines.
The Macau gambling mogul, responsible for making BW Resources Corp. the hottest and most controversial Philippine stock last year, said he was willing to junk his investments in Manila "if the situation turns bad enough."
"If I am really unwelcome and if President Estrada says `Stanley Ho, I cannot encourage you to invest here anymore,' then I will go," Ho said in a press briefing here.
Speaking to Philippine journalists at his residence here, the gaming tycoon pointed out that he was seriously rethinking his investment strategy, and was having second thoughts about increasing his exposure in the Philippines after a spate of reports linked him to an international crime syndicate.
"I would say (the reports) were rather insulting. I am surprised because there is no logic in accusing someone when you have no evidence. They were all just based on intelligence reports," Ho said.
Church and civic groups, including anti-crime advocates, have opposed Ho's entry into the Philippines especially after reports linked him to Hong Kong's Triads as well as other controversies surrounding his casino business.
"Obviously, people are trying to frighten me from investing further. I have never been attacked like this. This is the worst so far since they are based on nothing," he said.
Ho, who holds the exclusive gaming franchise in Macau, has poured in $30 million, or 10 percent equity in BW. He owns 40 percent of the New World Hotel in Makati City, and has held on to P500 million worth of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) shares which he acquired way back in 1987.
From 1975 to 1986 he operated nine casinos in Manila, but eventually pulled out because he had a falling out with associates of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
"I made a lot of money then but received nothing. The money went to Marcos... he was very clever. I was promised 10 percent of revenues at the start, before I had an argument with (Roberto) Benedicto," Ho told reporters.
Ho's decision to re-invest in the Philippines was influenced by the equally controversial businessman and presidential friend Dante Tan, who had invited him to invest in the on-line Bingo Filipino six months ago.
"I have run bingo for many years, and I think I know how to improve operations. That's the reason why I took up some shares of BW," Ho said.
He now sits as chairman of the gaming firm.
Apart from BW, which he plans to restructure into a tourism and leisure company, Ho said he intends to undertake socialized housing projects in partnership with the Estrada administration, build a hotel complex near the airport, and operate ferry boats, particularly jet foils, between Manila and Subic.
His Hong Kong flagship company, Shun Tak Holdings Ltd., has under its wings diverse businesses ranging from portfolio investments to hotels, shipping and property development.
Ho said he would consider putting up more of these types of investment in the Philippines once the situation improves.
"But certainly I will not do so at the moment since I am unwelcome," he said.
He pointed out that he will still go back to Manila for the opening of his Jumbo Palace floating restaurant at the end of the month.
Ho made it clear that the Palace, currently docked at Manila Bay, was a restaurant, saying he had no intention of operating a casino.
"I hope things will clear up. And with an invitation from your President, I could very well carry on with my investments," he said.
Ho is Asia's biggest casino operator credited with transforming Macau into the region's prime gambling haven before its turnover to China last year.
He has been criticized by social watchdogs in the Philippines for being a possible conduit for the drug trade, gambling and other Chinese Triad operations.
Earlier this month, President Estrada defended Ho's operations in the country, saying he could not reject the tycoon's investments based on mere presumptions.
The President said Ho was even given an audience by US President Bill Clinton and was presented an award by Pope John Paul II.
Based on records gathered, "Dr. Stanley Ho" was bestowed the Papal Honor of "Eqvitem Commendatorem Ordinis Sancti Gregori Magni" (Order of St. Gregory the Great) by the Pope.
The honor was awarded to Ho by Bishop Domingos Lam of the Macau Diocese on July 8, 1989 in Macau. Over 100 guests, including government officials and members of the Roman Catholic Church, were present at the occasion.
The award, the first in Macau in 65 years, was awarded to Ho in recognition of his generous contributions and support to the Church and its activities, his funding for schools, help for the needy and donations to charity.
In addition to the papal award, Ho has received numerous other honors and decorations from foreign governments.
Honored seven times by the Portuguese government, he was given the award of "Gra-Cruz da Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique," the highest honor for a civilian, by the president of Portugal in 1995. In May 1999, he was awarded the highest Portuguese Navy decoration, "Nuno Guncalo Viera Matias," by the navy chief of staff.
Ho was conferred the "Commander of the Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem" by Britain in 1983, and "Officer, Order of the British Empire" in 1990.
In 1994, Ho was honored by Clinton for his contribution to the Franklin Roosevelt Memorial Capital Campaign.
Ho has also received awards from the French, Spanish, Japanese and Malaysian governments.
Those opposing Ho's operations in the Philippines said his alleged connection to international drug syndicates is known to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson.
The United People Against Crime (UPAC) claimed Lacson was earlier informed by Hong Kong police officials that Ho was allegedly the leader of a crime group operating in both the former British colony and Macau.
UPAC chairman Alejandro Melchor III said Lacson relayed this information to visiting US congressmen last Jan. 8.
"The PNP chief told his visitors that if they can give him an official report on Ho's supposed illegal activities, he would immediately bring the matter to the attention of President Estrada," Melchor said.
Ho has denied any connection with the illegal drug trade.
Meanwhile, Rep. Roilo Golez (LAMP, Parañaque) said he will seek more information about Ho from the International Police and the Canadian Embassy.
Melchor earlier informed the lawmaker that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Secret Intelligence Service have identified Ho as the leader of a drug syndicate known as the Luen Kung Kok Triad.
Melchor said Canadian agencies are monitoring the activities of Ho because they suspect Hong Kong and Macau crime groups have been laundering their earnings in Canada through property acquisitions and other businesses.
The crime groups also have partners in the People's Liberation Army of China, which is suspected of manufacturing most of the illegal drugs entering the Philippines. -