Dela Rosa: Banning POGOs possible solution to deter crimes amid series of reported kidnappings

Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee chairperson Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa is considering banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) as a solution to deter crimes amid the series of reported kidnappings in the country.

Dela Rosa made the remark a day after the Senate panel launched the investigation into the rising abduction cases in Metro Manila and Luzon.

"Isa 'yan sa posibleng magandang solusyon dahil kung pagbabatayan natin-- sa isang banda 'yung income, 'yung taxes na nakukuha natin from POGO operations as compared to the social cost that has brought to our community-- baka mas mabigat yung social cost dahil nga sa krimen na nangyayari sa operations na 'yan. So isa 'yan sa pinag-aralan ng aking committee kung ano ang maging rekomendasyon namin," Dela Rosa said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita when asked about Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno's remark, saying he is in favor of discontinuing the program because of its social cost.

Dela Rosa said he is also in favor of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) "Oplan Sita," adding that the law enforcement agencies should be aggressive to clip the "trend" of crimes that is happening in the country right now.

'Private army'

In the same interview, Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, lamented that some so-called protective agents, which were questioned during the Senate public order and dangerous drugs hearing, are becoming a "private army" of the Chinese syndicates in the country.

"Ang masaklap apparently sa nakikita natin ngayon nagiging private army, nagiging goons nung mga big boss ng mga Chinese syndicates," Dela Rosa said.

During the hearing on Thursday, a video was presented showing 12 men in black clothing engaging in an encounter that turned violent.

Dela Rosa described the video as showing "karumal-dumal" or grisly act.

PNP-Southern Police District director Colonel Kirby John Kraft said the incident occurred on July 22 in an apartment building in Parañaque and involved 12 "protective agents," or civilians trained to be security.

“As of today, we have identified 12 protective agents, Filipinos, who were caught on the CCTV camera. And also the other Chinese suspects are still unidentified as of this date,” Kraft said.

Senator JV Ejercito then questioned why the alleged protective agents seemed to be using high-powered firearms.

PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Jose Chiquito Malayo said this is also under investigation as protective agents are not authorized to use high-powered firearms.

According to Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) chief Police Brigadier General Leumer Abugan, there are only 35 protective agents at present.

Abugan said protective agents must be employed by a private detective agency with a valid license to operate. He said they have special detail orders. 

Meanwhile, Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin called on her fellow lawmakers in both houses of Congress to immediately work on banning POGO amid the controversies hounding the industry including the recent series of kidnappings, abductions and other illegal activities.

Garin said these incidents have immensely affected the image of the Philippines. In effect, these incidents are driving away investors.

“Now that we are opening up our economy and kidnapping and human trafficking headlining our daily news, it is driving away investors considering that its creating a misinformation that the Philippines is not safe,” Garin said, mentioning the recent operation where the PNP rescued 42 Chinese nationals in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Similar to what Dela Rosa mentioned, Garin asserted that the crimes happening in the country outweigh the benefits of POGOs to the Philippines.

She also expressed support for Diokno's position to discontinue the POGO in the country due to its social costs.

“It has become a door to several crimes. The Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators hubs have become havens for undesirable aliens, drug and human trafficking, prostitution and other crime syndicates for money laundering and illicit operations,” she said.

“China and Cambodia have banned gambling because of the ill-effects it had brought and the Philippines should learn from their experience, we should not disregard the negative and deleterious effects that have risen with the continued operation of POGO in our country,” she added. — RSJ, GMA News