Blacklisted by the government over his alleged illegal online gaming casino in the Clark Freeport Zone, an emissary of Chinese gambling mogul Jack Lam said the tycoon will settle his deficiencies with the government and abide by its laws.
“Presently, he is blacklisted, which means he will not be allowed to return to the country,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said.
Lam would also be arrested once he returns to the country on standing orders from President Rodrigo Duterte, according to Aguirre.
Aguirre, however, said the blacklist and arrest order against Lam could be temporary.
Lam has already sent an emissary who said that Lam would be willing to settle his deficiencies and abide by the laws of the Philippines.
“He is going to pay taxes or liabilities and increase them to 10 percent instead of just one percent. He will also apply for new license with Pagcor this time,” Aguirre said.
“If there will be an agreement on the amount to be paid, then he might be allowed to continue his investments here.”
The Fontana Leisure Park and Casino did not have a permit from the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) for its online gaming facility.
Government authorities shut down the Fontana complex after government authorities found the existence of an illegal online gaming facility inside.
Criminal charges are being readied against Lam by the Bureau of Imigration and National Bureau of Investigation for economic sabotage and employing Chinese nationals without permits.