Firm denies involvement in illegal online gaming

MANILA, Philippines — The company that hired the services of 277 Chinese who were arrested last week during a raid in Pasig City yesterday denied any involvement in illegal online gambling and other scams.

Xingfeng Ou, chief operations officer of the Grafpefruit Services Inc. (GSI), said only four of the Chinese were the subjects of a mission order issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

They are Chen Xianfeng, Qi Heng, Wang Changsen and Qin Shuxin.

The BI said the four are wanted in China for a P700-million investment fraud.

Chen, Qi, and Wang were nabbed along with 274 other suspects during a raid on their office in Ortigas Center. Qin remains at large.

“The apprehension of the other Chinese suspects is illegal unless the same falls under the rule of warrantless arrest,” Xingfeng said in a letter to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente dated Sept. 16.

Xingfeng said the GSI operates a cryptocurrency business, which is legal in the Philippines.

 He added they have no knowledge that the four Chinese were fugitives based on the documents they submitted when they applied for work at the GSI.

Xingfeng said most of the arrested Chinese have valid passports and working visas issued by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).

He said the GSI, a service provider of Golden Millenial Quickpay Inc. Lt., was authorized by the CEZA to operate an offshore gaming operations such as the One Corporate Center in Orgtigas. – Raymund Catindig