NSC urged to tell Marcos: Declare POGO as nat'l security threat

The National Security Council (NSC) has been urged to recommend the declaration of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as a national security threat to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

This was raised by Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday during the Senate women, children, family relations, and gender equality's executive session with government agencies.

"Nu'ng patapos na 'yung kabuuan ng executive session, isang panawagan sa National Security Council na i-angat na kay presidente itong usapin ng POGO bilang national security threat," Hontiveros disclosed during the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

(There was a call to the National Security Council to raise the matter of POGO as a national security threat to the President as the executive session was winding down.)

"Hopefully ay diniggin ng NSC ang aming panawagan at diniggin din ni Presidente na pag-aralan ang POGO kung ito ba ay national security threat at kung 'yan ang mabuong opinyon ay sana umaksyon si presidente laban sa POGOs," she added.

(Hopefully the NSC will listen to our call and that the President will look into it and see if POGO is indeed a national security threat. We hope he can act on it.)

The deputy minority leader, who led several investigations into the human trafficking cases linked to POGO operations, reiterated her call for the president to ban the industry in the Philippines and said, "What are they waiting for?"

Believing that it is high time for NSC to give its position on POGOs, Hontiveros expressed hope that the government agencies will act harmoniously as the POGO operations are also "coordinated."

Hontiveros said the basis to declare POGO as a national security threat has become stronger after the executive session.

Apart from this call, Hontiveros said it was also discussed in the closed meeting the link analysis of Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and the illegal revenue flows of POGOs.

The Senate panel is currently investigating the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac.

In one of the previous hearings, Hontiveros said the POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac may be possibly involved in surveillance activities and even the hacking of several government websites.