POGOs, 'hotspot of fugitives' —Hontiveros

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday reiterated her call for the immediate ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), saying these are "hotspot of fugitives."

The lawmaker issued the statement as she led the inspection of a raided POGO firm in Bamban, Tarlac together with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

During the briefing with Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the senators were informed that six Chinese fugitives were found in the scam hub in Tarlac.

According to Hontiveros, all of whom were running love scams and cryptocurrency investment scams inside the compound.

“POGOs are a hotspot of fugitives. Lungga ng mga kriminal. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hanggang ngayon, hindi mapalayas nang tuluyan ang industriyang ito. Sino ba protektor ng mga ito? Bakit parang hirap na hirap ang gubyerno na kumilos?” Hontiveros said.

(I cannot understand why until now we have yet to kick out this industry. Who is the protector? Why is the government having a hard time to act against this?)

"Mula noon hanggang ngayon, hindi natin napakinabangan ang mga POGO. Puro sakit sa ulo ang dala sa bansa. The Executive should order the immediate ban of POGOs now," she added.

(From the start until now, we have yet to see the benefit of POGOs. All we get from these are problems)

Similar to the previously-raided POGO facilities, the firm in Bamban also had offices with computer workstations where there were instructional guides and scripts that are used to conduct love scams and crypto schemes. 

Hontiveros mentioned the presence of smartphones hanging on metal racks together with numerous SIM cards.

“Ginagamit talaga bilang legal cover ang POGO ng mga sindikatong scammer. At kahit pa ligal na POGO, hindi ikinaganda ng Pilipinas ang pag-welcome sa mga sugalang ito. Simula pa lang, nakita na natin na mas pinalala lang ng mga POGO ang mga sakit ng ating lipunan,” she said.

(POGOs are being used as a legal cover of scammers. It only exacerbated the ills of our society.)

Hontiveros, who led the investigation into the "pastillas scam" at the airports, said it is possible that the visa upon arrival (VUA) continues to be exploited until today, noting the 295 foreign workers found in Tarlac.

“Itong mga na-rescue, nakapasok ba dahil sa VUA noong panahon pa ng pastillas scam? O may bagong kababalaghan na naman na hindi pa natin alam?” she asked.

(Were the rescued foreign workers able to enter the country through the visas issued during the pastillas scam? Or is there a new scheme that we do not know yet?)

"Human trafficking is part of their business model. Sa pastillas scam findings ng komite, business partner ang mga tiwali sa Immigration. Hanggang ngayon ba may modus pa rin? May business partner na rin ba na mga LGU?" she asked.

(Based on our findings, corrupt immigration officers were the business partners in the pastillas scam. Is this still the modus? Or they found a new business partner in the LGUs?)

In an interview with reporters, Hontiveros reiterated the apparent inaction on the part of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the possible involvement of the local government unit of Bamban.

"Hiniling ko po 'yun sa DILG na ilagay sa preventive suspension [against LGU officials]. Hindi lang si mayor, pero kasama sila. May ilan pang pinangalanan sa mga dokumentong nakita natin kanina sa public briefing. Dahil habang lumalabas 'yung mga findings ng PAOCC, lalo na sa pangalawang raid na nagawa na nila recently, mga seryoso at mabibigat na tanong na kailangan talagang sagutin nina mayor bilang local chief executive dito sa Bamban," Hontiveros said.

(I requested the DILG for a preventive suspension [against the LGU officials]. Not just the mayor. There were other names in the document we saw during the public briefing. While these are revealed in the PAOCC findings, especially after the second raid. There are serious and heavy questions that the mayor of Bamban needs to answer.)

It was Gatchalian who called on the DILG to investigate the local chief executive of Bamban over possible links to a recently raided POGO hub in the province.

PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said they are looking into this recommendation and coordinated have with the DILG to look into the possible connivance of Bamban LGU officials and the POGO syndicates.

"Katulong na namin dito yung DILG. Naglabas na, nag-create na ng isang task force to look into the participation o yung connivance kung meron man ng LGU and yung sindikato ng POGO na ito," Cruz said.

(The DILG is helping us. A task force has been created to look into the participation or connivance of Bamban local officials and the POGO syndicates.)

Earlier, Gatchalian, who recommended the total ban of this industry, raised the possibility of conspiracy between Immigration officers and foreign fugitives who were captured during the recent raids of POGO hubs.

Gatchalian had stated that "these cases were also similar to the 'pastillas scam' wherein foreigners were whisked past immigration counters in exchange for money rolled in white paper made to look like the local milk pastry called pastillas.

In November 2023, Hontiveros and Gatchalian also inspected a raided POGO hub in Pasay City, where they found authentic Tax Identification Number (TIN) IDs that were recovered from foreign workers.—AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News