Senate to shift POGO probe from Bamban to Porac — Win Gatchalian

The Senate  is set to conclude its investigation into the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in Bamban, Tarlac to focus on the raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Sunday.

“Nung nag-usap kami ni Senator Risa (Hontiveros), nasabi ko sa kanya na pwede na naming bigyan ng focus ang POGO hub sa Porac. Hindi pa namin ito nabibigyan ng pansin at wala pang mga kasong nai-file,” Gatchalian said in an interview over Super Radyo dzBB.

“Nakikita ko kasi kung hindi nabibigyan ng spotlight, hindi rin nafa-file yung kaso at tumatagal,” he added.

(When I talked to Senator Risa Hontiveros, I told her we can start focusing on the POGO hub in Porac town since we have yet to give it attention, and no charges have been filed against those involved. I observed that if the issue is not given a spotlight, no charges are filed and the case takes longer.)

Hontiveros is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which is conducting the hearing on illegal POGO and its violation of human rights.

In June, authorities discovered tortured victims, an alleged torture room and evidence of "love scam" operations inside the Porac POGO hub.

Gatchalian said the personalities linked to the crime in Bamban town and Porac town are intertwined while their modus operandi are almost similar.

The senator said one of the personalities linked to the two POGO hubs is Tony Yang, the brother of Michael Yang, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s economic advisor, who was allegedly in a transaction with dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo during the height of POGO operations in her municipality.

GUO TRANSFER

Meanwhile, Gatchalian believes Guo will be transferred to Pasig City Jail despite the current delay.

“Dahil mayroon nang court order, it's a matter of time na mata-transfer siya (Guo). Mayroon lang documentary procedures kaya naaantala,” Gatchalian said.

(Since there is a court order,  it's a matter of time before Guo is transferred. There are just delays due to documentary procedures.)

Guo's transfer from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory was postponed due to some documentary requirements for the transfer of custody, including medical assessment, have yet to be completed.

The Philippine National Police said Guo is likely to be transferred on Monday.

Guo earlier posted bail for graft charges at the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court Branch 282.

In a statement on Sunday, Hontiveros said that despite Guo’s right to post bail, the dismissed mayor will remain detained since she is still facing non-bailable human trafficking charges.—RF, GMA Integrated News