Porac raid shows possible POGO influence on Judiciary — senator

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday said the recent raid in a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga showed the possible influence of Chinese syndicates on the Judiciary.

"Ang mga information na nakuha ko, itong POGO meron siyang seating capacity of more than 1,000 agents. So 1,000 na trabahador, pero nahuli lang 140 plus because apparently nu'ng nag-file ng search warrant ang PAOCC, mayroong nag-tip dito sa mga operators," Gatchalian said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday. The lawmaker was referring to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

(Based on the information I have received, this POGO has a seating capacity of more than 1,000 agents. So that's 1,000 workers, but only 140 plus were nabbed because apparently when PAOCC filed an application for a search warrant, someone tipped the operators.)

"Ang kutob ko dito hindi lang enforcement agency, pati judiciary meron na silang mga tao. Dahil kung mapapansin natin itong mga last few warrant of arrest na nangyari, puro sa Bulacan courts. Siguro alam nila na dito na naman pupunta, nagkaroon na sila ng mga mata at tenga dun sa korte at nalaman na nila," he said.

(My hunch is that the people behind the POGOs have insiders not just in law enforcement agencies, but even in the judiciary. We may notice that the last few warrants of arrest that came out were from Bulacan courts. Perhaps the criminals know that operations will be held in the same area. They have gained eyes and ears in the court and they are tipped about what's coming.)

"Again, marunong rin gumalaw itong mga ito para magkaroon ng mga galamay at ito 'yung isang ebidensya na meron na silang mga tao sa mga lugar na magbibigay ng tip sa kanila," he added.

(Again, these criminals know how to move with the help of their cohorts. This is evidence that they have people under their command, who will give them tips about law enforcement operations.)

GMA News Online sought the comment of the Supreme Court on the senator's remarks, but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

At the early part of the forum, Gatchalian expressed alarm over the report by intelligence agencies during an executive session in the Senate on Wednesday, indicating that the Chinese criminal syndicates behind the POGO operations in Bamban are already working with local criminals, law enforcers, and even local politicians.

"After nu'ng first part [of the executive session with the intelligence agencies], kinilabutan ako eh dahil nga na-confirm ng ating mga intelligence agencies 'yung kinakatakutan natin na lumalalim na itong ugat ng POGO," Gatchalian said.

(After the first part of the executive session with intelligence agencies, I got goosebumps because they confirmed that the POGOs' roots run deep, as we had feared.)

"Malalim, ibig sabihin 'yung kanilang impluwensya umaabot na sa mga pulitiko, umaabot na sa mga enforcement agencies tulad ng kapulisan, Bureau of Immigration, at pangatlo, meron silang binanggit doon na pati 'yung mga local na criminal syndicates ay nakakasama na nila," he disclosed.

(When we say deep, that means their influence affects politicians and law enforcement agencies like the police, Bureau of Immigration. Third, they mention that they are working with local criminal syndicates.)

Gatchalian, citing information from intelligence agencies, said there are some local politicians who are "part of the web" that operated the POGO hub in Bamban. Their participation in the said POGO operations was not elaborated.

"Doon sa mga pinakitang pangalan marami... May mga pangalan kasi dun at merong web na pinakita at may mga politicians…enforcers, criminal syndicates, even businessmen," he said.

(Many names were shown... they showed a web linked to politicians... enforcers, criminal syndicates, even businessmen.)

The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality is currently investigating the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac.

The probe highlighted Bamban Mayor Alice Guo's alleged involvement in the establishment of the POGO hub in the town. Guo has formally appealed her suspension, saying the complaints filed against her over alleged POGO links were baseless.

Gatchalian said that there were concrete pieces of evidence disclosed during the executive session that support Guo's alleged ties with the Chinese criminal syndicate that operated the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac. — VDV, GMA Integrated News