Only 1 of 46 buildings inside Porac POGO hub licensed to operate —PAGCOR 

Only one of the 46 buildings inside the Lucky South 99 Corp., a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) compound in Porac, Pampanga, was given a permit to operate by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). 

According to the report of GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon’s Joanne Ponsoy on “24 Oras," the Pampanga provincial council held a hearing on Friday regarding the illegal POGO operation in Porac. 

PAGCOR said that the lone building inside the 10-hectare POGO hub in Porac that was allowed to operate started as a BPO company that answers queries on online casino games. 

“Eventually naisyuhan na po ng POGO license si Lucky South 99 [Outsourcing, Inc.] kung saan sila na po ang magapapataya supposedly. So na-isyu ‘yun noong 2020, bale mula 2020 hanggang October 27, 2023,” said Jessa Mariz Fernandez, PAGCOR Offshore Gaming License Department AVP. 

(Eventually, Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc. was issued a POGO license so they can hold the bettings. So it was issued in 2020 and it was valid until October 27, 2023.) 

It was also discovered during the hearing that Lucky South 99 is not registered with the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., and PAG-IBIG. 

Further, the registered number of foreign employees in Lucky South 99 in the Bureau of Immigration is 800. 

But it doesn’t match with data of the Department of Labor and Employment Region 3 which is at only more than 100. Meanwhile, PAGCOR’s records showed that the POGO hub only had seven foreign employees. 

Also probed during the hearing was one of the listed incorporators of the POGO hub, who is also the president of the Whirlwind Company - the company that allegedly owns the land where the hub is situated. 

But she insisted that her name was just being used by Lucky South 99 in the company documents.   

“Tapos yung Lucky South (99), ginagamit pa rin ang name ko,” said Stephanie Mascarenas. 

(The Lucky South 99 is still using my name until now.) 

Lucky South 99’s representative did not attend the hearing.—Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News