Southern Metro Manila monitored for illegal POGOs -PAOCC

The Presidential  Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said they were monitoring areas in southern Metro Manila for illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities.

In Mav Gonzales’ 24  Oras Weekend report, PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said areas such as Muntinlupa, Makati, Pasay, and Parañaque were being observed as workers who fled from the raid at the POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga were reportedly now in Metro Manila. 

“Siguro (Maybe) it has something to do with the proximity to the airport, proximity to hotels and casinos,” said Casio.

“Parang may little Chinatown na dyan sa Multinational. Pero tinitingnan pa lang namin ito kasi baka wala naman silang ginagawang illegal activities,”he added.

(It looks like there is a little Chinatown in  Multinational Village. But we are still looking into it because they may not be doing anything illegal.)

At least 158 foreigners  were rescued from the POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga last June 5. 

Casio said authorities were also monitoring for illegal POGOs in Cavite.

“Sa Cavite merong tiningnan ilang buwan nakakaraan pero wala kaming  na-verify na illegal activities sa Island Cove. In fact na-verify sa labas ng Island Cove. Sa areas ng Bacoor, Dasmariñas.”

(We are monitoring if there are illegal activities in Cavite but we did not verify anything in Island Cove. But we verified some illegal activities in  Bacoor and Dasmariñas.)

Authorities suspected that the Ninoy  Aquino International Airport was being used as a gateway for the operation of illegal POGOs in the south.

PAOCC said Chinese fugitive Huang Zhiyang, who is said to be one of the suspended Bamban  Mayor Alice Guo’s business associates, is still in the country. 

“Nung chineck ang CCTV nandun si Huang Zhiyang. Nung alam na niyang papasukin na, saka sya tumakas. Akala nya kaya nyang suhulan ang nag-ops from  PAOCC. Malaking grupo from Bamban, Porac namanmanan namin sa Metro  Manila,”Casio said.

(We saw Huang Zhiyang when we checked the  CCTV. He fled when he knew we would enter the compound. He thought he could bribe the PAOCC. We also monitored a big group from Bamban and  Porac in Metro Manila. )

Amid the successive POGO raids,  PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said the true threat was from syndicates and not from legitimate and licensed POGOs.

He said they were working with the government in going after the underground alien hacking and scam syndicates.

He added that PAGCOR was monitoring POGOs that were paying taxes and providing jobs. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/DVM, GMA Integrated News