President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he is open to allowing Chinese gambling tycoon Jack Lam back into the Philippines to resume his business, if he follows certain conditions.

Duterte said Lam, who reportedly sent surrender feelers to the police, must renegotiate his contracts and apologize for attempting to bribe Philippine officials.

"Okay lang sa akin (It's okay with me) because he has offered to come back to resume his business, pay his taxes... liability," the President told reporters at the groundbreaking ceremony of airport facilities at the Bicol International Airport in Albay.

"Just pay the taxes [and] do not bribe anybody," he added.

Duterte had earlier ordered the arrest of Lam over bribery and economic sabotage charges.

The order came after the arrest of over 1,000 Chinese workers who were illegally working in Lam's online gaming facility in Pampanga and his alleged attempt to bribe government officials to free his men, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Roland "Bato" dela Rosa.