Senate probe on POGO to give justice to trafficking victims —Hontiveros

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday said the Senate investigation into the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) will continue despite the total ban recently announced by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"It’s not over yet. Hindi lang naman si Mayor [Alice] Guo ang iniimbestigahan dito, kundi ang buong industriya ng POGO na nagdala ng samu’t saring krimen sa bansa," Hontiveros said in a statement.

(The investigation focuses not only on Mayor Guo, but the whole industry of POGO that brought various crimes in the country.)

"Kahit inanunsyo na ang pag-ban ng POGO, oversight function ng Senado ang matiyak na ang phaseout ay tunay na maipapatupad, na ang mga sangkot sa krimen ay matukoy, ang mga victim-survivors ay mabigyan ng hustisya, at na ang mga manggagawa ay mabigyan ng just transition," she added.

(Even though the ban on POGO was already declared, it is part of the oversight function of the Senate to ensure that the phaseout is really implemented, the involved personalities in this industry are identified, the victim-survivors are given justice, and the workers are given a just transition.)

Further, Hontiveros said the Senate needs to ensure that the "regulatory failures" on POGO are addressed.

"Maraming institusyon ng gubyerno ang mukhang na-korap ng mga POGO at kailangan tugunan ito ng mga polisiyang maaaring isulong namin sa Senado," she said.

(There are a lot of government institutions that seem to have been corrupted by POGOs and these should be addressed by policies that we may push in the Senate.)

The Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality will continue the investigation on July 29.

Guo, who is currently suspended from her post, has been the subject of a Senate inquiry in connection with alleged illegal activities in the raided POGO in Bamban.

Senators have also questioned her identity following inconsistencies with her answers regarding her nationality and personal life.

The National Bureau of Investigation has earlier confirmed that Guo's fingerprints are identical to that of Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.—LDF, GMA Integrated News