Imee calls for suspension of POGOs – Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines – Amid controversy surrounding Philippine offshore gambling operators, Senator Imee Marcos has proposed the suspension of POGOs and is seeking support from China, which has banned offshore gambling for its citizens.

Marcos called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to immediately issue a clear policy on POGO.

“I think we need to stop operations immediately. Maybe stop them first and then examine the system and clarify what is allowed and what is not,” she said yesterday in an interview with Radio dzBB.

“I think PAGCOR can do it because they have everything under control. They should regulate it. They will say what the framework is. Make it known to all agencies, including the LGUs (local government units), the police and the judiciary to sort everything out. If (POGO) really cannot be regulated, stop it,” she added.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has conducted operations against illegal POGOs in Pampanga and arrested several Chinese nationals involved in the illegal activities.

Marcos stressed that those arrested in the raids must be brought to justice.

“Those who are caught illegally should be charged because it is really unclear whether they are not obeying the peace and order and immigration laws,” she said.

When asked what action Malacañang could take against POGO, the senator said she did not want to prejudge the executive’s actions.

“I still hope that the government will issue a new policy,” she said, noting that “nothing has been shown for more than two years.”

“That’s why I hope they explain that people with criminal records are not allowed to enter the country. That they cannot buy us, even if they have enough money,” she said.

“The BI (Bureau of Immigration) needs to explain the situation. Even the immigration authorities are said to be in cahoots with some DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) employees who issue permanent resident visas. And then the police: Why can’t the attackers enter the country just because there are bodyguards?” she added.

Although she is not yet aware of the statement by fellow senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian that POGO is a threat to national security, Marcos said: “It is clear to me that there is already transnational crime. It has reached another level and we cannot handle it alone. Let us get help from China (in solving the POGO problems).”

Marcos did not say how China could help the Philippines as both countries are embroiled in a dispute over the West Philippine Sea.

She explained that shutting down POGO operations would allow the government to “calculate how much money is being made and move on to other matters.”

“Last time I learned it was about P12 billion, but many of them are fraud activities. Is that beneficial? There were too many underhanded, others did not pay taxes. It is hard to make money, but they are just giving stingy money,” the senator said.

She added that the revenue would not offset the reputational and social costs.

“The Philippines has a reputation for being a haven for criminals. And some people say that there are no laws in the Philippines and that you can buy anything and anything. That’s a disgrace,” she said.

As a former governor of Ilocos Norte, Marcos acknowledged that local government officials had no ability to control or regulate POGO at the local level.

“Actually, POGO is not popular yet, we already have a high roller junket there in Fort Ilocandia. At the beginning, it seemed okay, it was like a casino, okay, then we saw what miracles it does with fugitives from justice and criminals, and then it became scary that it got worse, they are crossing their fingers with a lot of drug cops and drug judges,” she said.

“If it cannot be regulated and it is not that big because the revenue before was P12 billion, it is not that much, the revenue is not worth it. From September to now, PAGCOR has not yet issued a clear policy on POGO because PAGCOR does not want to ban it,” she added.

Real enemy: AHaSS

As this unfolded, the PAGCOR chief spoke out yesterday and appeared to take a stand for the beleaguered offshore gaming industry, even coming up with a new nomenclature and acronym to brand what he sees as the real enemy.

In a press release, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco stated that the real threat to national security is not legitimate and licensed offshore gaming operators but Alien Hacking and Scam Syndicates (AHaSS).

Tengco added that legitimate internet gaming licensees or IGLs (the new name and acronym for POGOs) generate funds for the government and contributed more than ₱5 billion to PAGCOR’s gross revenue last year.

“For us, the real threats are the underground hacker and fraud syndicates, and these are the ones our law enforcement agencies are trying to track down and dismantle,” he said. “And we are fully cooperating with the authorities in this regard.”

The PAGCOR chief also appealed to the public to report suspicious activities of foreigners in their communities, as such crime syndicates are usually armed and dangerous.

“We should not blame and demonize our licensed gaming operators because they are closely monitored by PAGCOR,” he said. “Our licensees pay taxes and they help provide legitimate jobs and livelihoods to many people.”

According to Tengco, PAGCOR has stationed monitoring teams at the locations of all licensed gaming operators, including land-based casinos, to ensure compliance with license conditions.

Anyone who violates the terms of their license will be subject to fines and other penalties. In the case of particularly serious violations, the license will be revoked and the deposit will be forfeited.

“We do not need to ban POGOs. What we need to do is intensify our crime-fighting measures against suspected foreign hackers, fraudsters and cybercriminals who usually hide in highly secured buildings and compounds,” Tengco said.

“These criminal syndicates are not involved in offshore gambling at all, and even if they were, they are doing it illegally. So they are the real threat and we need to go after them with everything at our disposal,” he added.

Rescued refugee

A Chinese refugee was among the rescued foreign nationals at a POGO facility in Porac, Pampanga yesterday, a PAOCC official said.

PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio confirmed during the Kapihan sa QC forum that the fugitive, wanted in China for “violent crimes,” was caught around midnight on June 8.

Casio announced that the person was the 160th foreigner rescued as part of the ongoing crackdown on illegal POGO operations.

“Among those rescued, we identified four kidnapping victims: two who were severely beaten, a Chinese national who was abducted at NAIA Terminal 1 and another Chinese national who was abducted in Pasay,” he said.

He added that they conducted an immigration investigation on the 160 people yesterday afternoon.

In addition, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the BI to investigate the recent raid on a POGO facility in Porac, Pampanga for alleged involvement in prostitution, human trafficking and fraud.

Remulla has instructed the NBI and the BI to “monitor the case, file charges if necessary and promptly deport those found to have violated immigration laws.”

“The Department of Justice will take action against those behind these illegal activities,” he said yesterday. — Rainier Allan Ronda, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Daphne Galvez