By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday said he was “horrified” after learning that some Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) are reportedly working with local criminal syndicates.
During the Kapihan sa Senado, Gatchalian said the deepening ties between Chinese and local criminal groups were revealed by security and law enforcement agencies during Wednesday’s closed-door session conducted by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
“After no’ng first part [ng executive session], kinilabutan ako dahil nga na-confirm no’ng ating mga intelligence agencies ‘yong kinakatakutan natin na lumalalim na yung ugat nitong POGO. Malalim, ibig sabihin, ‘yong kanilang impluwensya umaabot na sa mga politiko, enforcement agencies tulad ng kapulisan, Bureau of Immigration; at pangatlo, mayroon silang binanggit do’n na pati yung mga local criminal syndicates nakakasama na nila,” Gatchalian said.
“Nakakatakot ito dahil pera ng mga foreign criminal syndicates pumupunta na dito, pinopondohan nila ‘yong local criminal syndicates kaya nagsasanib-puwersa na itong mga masasamang elemento,” he added.
Gatchalian agreed with Committee chairperson Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros that the National Security Council should discuss their findings with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and recommend the total ban of POGOs in the country.
“Ang kinakatakutan ko, baka umabot sa punto na hindi na natin mako-control ang mga ito at sila na ang ko-control sa gobyerno natin kasi may mga tao na silang binabayaran,” the senator said.
Gatchalian also expressed suspicion on the recent raid of an alleged POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga where “only” more than 100 foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, were detained.
The operation was conducted after authorities received reports of scamming activities, torture, kidnapping, and sex trafficking.
According to Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Dr. Winston John Casio, they expected to catch about 1,000 foreigners in the said operation, but admitted to a possible “leak of information”.
“Apparently noong nag-file ng search warrant ang PAOCC, merong nag-tip dito sa mga operators. So, ang kutob ko dito hindi lang enforcement agencies, kundi pati judiciary mayroon na silang mga tao,” Gatchalian said.
“Marunong ding gumalaw ang mga ito para magkaroon ng mga galamay at ito ‘yong isang ebidensya na meron na silang mga tao sa mga lugar na magbibigay ng tip sa kanila,” he added.