By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it is ready to secure Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who is leading the probe into illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
In a radio interview, PNP Spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Gatchalian has sought assistance from the Pasay City Police after receiving death threats.
“Our ACG (Anti-Cybercrime Group) is also coordinating with the senator to look into these threats and to determine where these threats are coming from. On the part of the PNP, we are ready to respond to this request of the senator,” she said in Filipino.
Gatchalian is taking part in the ongoing investigation of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros on the links of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to the illegal POGO, Zun Yuan Technology Inc. (ZYTI), which was raided in her town.
Gatchalian attached in his letter to the police a transcript of a video circulating online, containing explicit threats to him.
Fajardo, meanwhile, said they are also coordinating with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), which said its personnel are also receiving death threats amid the crackdown on illegal POGOs.
PAOCC Spokesperson Winston Casio earlier said the agency is mainly composed of civilian personnel who are merely analysts and are not armed during raids.
