By Filane Mikee Cervantes | Philippine News Agency
A leader of the House of Representatives on Monday described the emergence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), and the illegal activities associated with them, as the “worst curse” to befall any government system.
During a meeting on a proposed investigation into possible links between POGOs, illegal drug trade, and extrajudicial killings (EJKs), Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said POGOs became the hubs of kidnapping for ransom, murders, tortures, human trafficking, money laundering, cybercrimes, cyber scams, and other “unspeakable” crimes.
Barbers, chair of the Dangerous Drugs committee, said POGOs became a “monster almost overnight” in the guise of being a savior by bringing in revenues that the government may use for healthcare and other priority projects.
Existence of a well-organized syndicate
He said separate investigations of the House’s Dangerous Drugs, Human Rights, Public Accounts, and Public Order and Safety committees—dubbed the “Quad Comm”—confirmed the existence of a big Chinese-organized crime syndicate that undermines the security of the government.
The syndicate also brought in “hot money” to the country to wash and launder in casinos and POGOs, Barbers said.
“Once legitimized, the money is then used to buy influence in government. This influence enables the members of the syndicate to corrupt even more government workers who then issue identification papers, cards and certifications based on falsified information, leading to their assumption of fake Filipino identities and citizenships,” Barbers said.
He said POGOs became a “faster vehicle” for members of the syndicate to come ashore and become legitimate visitors, investors, students and even citizens.
He further explained that the syndicate formed corporations by pretending to have Filipino members without regulatory agencies bothering to undertake due diligence.
“These dubious Filipino-controlled corporations then engaged in a buying spree of properties, real estate, [with] drug and POGO money being their main capital. Thanks to the great assistance of some local government officials and employees who facilitated these illegal transactions,” he said.
Barbers said the “Quad Comm” aims to craft legislative solutions, as well as assist in the prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators, conspirators, and masterminds of the whole criminal network.
“By unmasking them and exposing their activities through this wide congressional investigation, we promise that we will leave no stone unturned until we have finally solved the puzzle,” he said.
Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said the unified investigation will help put an end to the menace and provide a major contribution to the Marcos administration’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas.
“A unified investigation will strengthen our thrust. Consolidating resources will give us faster results which, more than ever, is critical as we are racing against time. A protracted investigation is utterly unacceptable because the stakes are too high and too precious to lose,” Gonzales said in a statement.
The first Quad Comm hearing will be held on August 16 in Pampanga, in which one city and two towns are sites of recent major police operations: an illegal POGO hub in Porac was shut down in June; while in 2023, P1.3 billion worth of shabu was discovered in Mabalacat City and another P3.6 billion worth of shabu shipment was seized in Mexico.
