House to probe POGOs starting July 17

The House of Representatives will conduct a motu proprio investigation on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs in the country starting Wednesday, July 17.

House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chair Dan Fernandez on Monday said his committee and the Committee on Games and Amusement were tasked by Speaker Martin Romualdez to conduct the investigation.

“Comprehensively, we will be trying to find out kung ano ang mga criminal elements na involved at sino 'yung mga involved doon,” Fernandez told reporters in an ambush interview.

(Comprehensively, we will be trying to find out what are the criminal elements involved and who are involved therein.)

When asked if the investigation will also look into the POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac, Fernandez replied, “We don’t want to focus lamang doon kay Alice Guo kasi masyado nang detalye 'yon. What we wanted to have details ay 'yung mga criminal activities that were conducted inside doon sa mga POGOs.”

(We don't want to focus only on Alice Guo because there are too many details. We want to have details about the criminal activities that were conducted inside POGOs.)

Fernandez said they have already invited the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF,) the League of Cities of the Philippines, and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.

“Kailangan nating malaman bakit sila nagco-conduct ng mga ganitong criminal activities inside. Ano ba ito, dahil kailangan nilang magkaroon sila ng mga different kind of scam in order for us to have a much higher profit? Sinong mga nagbebenepisyo sa mga profits na ito? Meron bang mga LGUs? Meron bang tinatawag nating PNPs? Meron bang other personalities?” Fernandez said.

(We need to know why they are conducting such criminal activities inside [POGOs]. What is this, do they need to have a different kind of scam in order for us to have a much higher profit? Who will benefit from these profits? Are there LGUs? Are there PNPs? Are there other personalities?)

Fernandez said the mayors should take the initiative to close down illegal POGO hubs instead of relying on the PAOCTF and the DOJ to go after them.

“Kung illegal 'yung POGO, the mayor should be responsible, na dapat alam niya na may illegal na nagaganap sa kanyang lugar. And thereby requesting them to do their job and responsibility to close yung mga illegal. Kasi kung iisa-isahin natin ang PAOCTF o DOJ sa pagsampa para maisara yon, I think we will take many months to do that,” Fernandez added.

(If the POGO is illegal, the mayor should be responsible. He/she should know that there is something illegal happening in his/her area. And thereby [we are] requesting them to do their job and responsibility to close those that are illegal. If we will rely on the PAOCTF or DOJ to move to close each illegal POGO, I think we will take many months to do that.)

When asked for his personal position on POGOs, Fernandez replied, “Ayoko ng sugal. But of course, meron tayong mga legal na gambling. And we subscribe on the laws that is existing in this country. And that is why we protect the legal and siguro tanggalin natin 'yung illegal. Sugal na nga 'yon tapos gagawin mo pang ilegal. That’s too much.”

(I don't like gambling. But of course, there is legal gambling... And that is why we protect the legal and maybe we should remove the illegal. It's already a vice and you'll still make it illegal. That's too much.)

“Nadinig ko nga si (PAGCOR Chair) Al Tengco na nakakatulong sa ating gobyerno. Totoo namang nakakatulong. Pero kung ang nangyayari naman, nakakaapekto sa seguridad ng ating bansa, I think we have to stop it,” Fernandez added.

(I heard PAGCOR chairman Al Tengco saying that POGOs help the government. It's true that the POGO industry can help. But if this affects the security of the nation, I think we have to stop it.) —KG, GMA Integrated News