3 senators back possible ban vs. illegal POGOs

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Loren Legarda on Thursday expressed support for the possible ban on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

The lawmakers made the remark a day after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that criminal syndicates posing as POGO hubs are national security concern and that "we should stop these syndicated criminal activities operating our of our base."

"I agree with Sec. Teodoro who seems to be referring to illegal POGO operations because he said that 'do not operate as intended.' In fact, ALL ILLEGAL POGOS should be closed whether they are close to our military bases or not and their perpetrators arrested," Escudero said when asked to comment on Teodoro's  remarks.

"If, on the other hand, he is ALSO referring to 'legal POGOS,' then I suggest that he discuss this matter of 'national concern' with PAGCOR  as it may involve national security," the Senate president added.

In issuing her statement, Legarda said law enforcement authorities "must take drastic action to prevent further criminal elements to use POGOs as fronts and shut them down now."

"POGOs are a national security threat. Recent discoveries have been very alarming on the human rights and national security fronts...Deport the mainland Chinese who are illegally operating in the POGOs, especially those involved in criminal activities. This is for the sake of the Filipino nation," Legarda said.

In a statement, Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense, said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) should immediately close down all illegal and unlicensed POGOs if there is enough information about their activities.

"Kung may sapat na impormasyon na ang PAGCOR tungkol dito, huwag na sana silang magpatumpik-tumpik pa sa pagpapasara ng mga ilegal o unlicensed na POGOs," he said.

"Sa pakikipagtulungan sa Bureau of Immigration ng PAGCOR, dapat na i-cancel din ang mga visa ng mga dayuhang empleyado ng mga unlicensed POGOs at ipatupad ang agarang deportation proceedings sa kanila," he further suggested.

(If PAGCOR has enough pieces of information about this, I hope they won't waste their time and they should immediately close down these illegal or unlicensed POGOs. With PAGCOR's help, the Bureau of Immigration should also cancel the visas of the foreign employees in these unlicensed POGOs and they should undergo deportation proceedings.)

In making the call, the senator raised concerns on POGO operations near the military bases and the reports of some 250 others operating without licenses.

This, he said, should "prompt out concerned authorities to conduct a crackdown on these illega entities."

"Walang mabuting naidudulot ang patuloy nilang pamamalagi sa atin dahil bukod sa hindi naman sila nagbabayad ng kaukulang buwis, samu’t saring krimen at paglabag sa ating batas ang ginagawa ng mga ito," he said.

(Their continued presence in our country does not benefit us. Aside from not paying the right taxes, they are bringing various crimes and committing several violations of laws.)

POGO hubs

In March, authorities rescued more than 800 Filipinos and foreign nationals at a large POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac after it was raided for alleged illegal activities that include crypto and love scams.

The raid has prompted senators to question suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo over her alleged links to the POGO hub, as well as her identity as a Filipino citizen. Guo, for her part, has denied the allegations against her.

Last week, authorities raided another POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga and rescued 158 Chinese, Vietnamese, and Malaysian nationals. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the recent raid showed the possible influence of Chinese syndicates in the country’s court systems.

This prompted the Supreme Court to conduct an investigation into the matter.

In the raided POGO hub in Porac, authorities have discovered alleged uniforms of the Chinese military in the premises.

However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it was possible that the uniforms were only used as props by POGO workers in their illicit online transactions.

The Philippine Navy, for its part, said it was not yet considering POGOs as a threat to national security despite the series of raids in Central Luzon against POGO hubs involved in alleged illegal activities. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News