Gov't probing criminal liability of Pasay local execs over POGO activities

Authorities are investigating the possible criminal liability of Pasay City local officials amid recent raids on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGOs) hubs in the area.

At a Palace press conference, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesman Winston Casio was asked if Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano could face charges over the existence of POGOs in her jurisdiction.

Casio then enumerated the raids conducted in POGO operations in the city, noting that a case buildup is already ongoing.

“Well, we're conducting an investigation, together with the Department of Justice and the DILG, on the possible culpability of the LGU (local government unit) officials of this particular city, Pasay City. Because as I have mentioned, the very first raid that we conducted was SA Rivendell, that was in P. Zamora. The second was Zun Yuan Technology that is in corner FB Harrison and William Street, also in Pasay. We also conducted a raid in Kimberhi Technology, that's also in Pasay, that's the 3D Analyzer POGO. We also conducted lately a raid inside Heritage Hotel in Pasay," Casio said.

"Although, the local chief of police has always been with us in the fight against illegal POGO, but we're taking a look at the possible culpability, criminal liability of LGU officials, primarily those in the issuances of the mayor's permit, the BPLO (Business Permits and Licensing Office) certificates, the business permit so to speak," Casio said.

"So, we have not yet reached a conclusion, together with the Department of Justice and the DILG, on how to proceed, but the case build-up is already ongoing—it's there," he added.

GMA News Online has reached out to the Pasay City mayor's office regarding the matter, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

Recently, authorities nabbed 14 Filipinos and six Koreans for allegedly operating an illegal POGO and running a scam in Pasay City. One of the Koreans had been tagged as a blacklisted alien.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI), in coordination with other concerned government agencies, implemented a mission order to conduct the raid at the basement office of a hotel in Pasay City.

From their scamming operations inside large POGO compounds, authorities said operators have shifted to small-scale operations, with love scams being among the most recent activities. — VDV, GMA Integrated News