By Junex Doronio
MANILA – In due time, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chief will unmask the Cabinet official under the administration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who had lobbied for the granting of licenses to some illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
This was confirmed on Monday (July 1, 2024) by Pagcor Assistant Vice President for External Communications Jun Alano who told Maharlika NuMedia that only his boss, Pagcor chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco knew the identity of the former Cabinet official.
“Si Chairman Al Tengco lang talaga ang nakakilala sa opisyal na yun ni ex-President Duterte na nag-lobby. Wala namang Pogo nung panahon ni (late President) Noynoy Aquino,” Alano quipped.
The POGOs mushroomed in 2016 as Duterte pursued closer trade and investment ties with China.
Several Filipinos have complained against POGOs because they employ mainly Chinese workers and target customers in China where gambling is illegal.
Some POGOs have even been linked to investment fraud.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has estimated some 100 illegal POGO facilities still operating in the country.
But Alano noted that there are only 42 POGOs licensed under Pagcor.
“Sabi naman po ni Chairman Al Tengco ay sa tamang lugar po babanggitin niya at ibibulgar niya ang pangalan kaya siguro po baka maghihintay na lang si Chairman ng formal na imbestigasyon kung halimbawa man ay sa Senado,” Alano said earlier in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
(el Amigo/mnm)
