By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — As promised, Malacañang on Friday (08 Nov 2024) issued Executive Order No. 74, banning all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogos), Internet Gaming, and other offshore gaming activities in the country.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said “the State has the paramount duty to safeguard national security, maintain public order, uphold the rule of law, protect the safety of its citizens, and ensure the integrity of the social fabric of the nation.”

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), this move is in response to the concerns of agencies such as the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), saying that POGO operations caused negative effects such as increased crime, exploitation, and money laundering risk.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Report also indicated Pogos have been identified as susceptible to money laundering, fraud, and other illicit financial activities.

“The high reputational risks associated with POGO/IGL operations deter foreign investment and tourism, undermining the efforts of the National Government in promoting the country as a safe and sustainable investment and tourism destination,” the EO read.

The President’s order, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on November 5, will cover Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and Offshore Gaming Operations and Services.

During his third State of the Nation Address last July, Marcos promised to ban all the Pogos in the country.

ia/mnm

By Junex Doronio

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Concerned residents called on Saturday for the House Quad Committee to invite Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan as a resource person following reports that a Chinese national, recently arrested as the alleged “boss” of an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub, was serving as a consultant for Chinese Business Promotions under the Office of the Mayor.

The residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals, told Maharlika NuMedia that it is time to end illegal activities that hinder economic growth and threaten peace and order in this highly urbanized city.

In a social media post on Friday (September 6, 2024), Chan strongly denied that the arrested individual, Zhao, was a consultant for Chinese Business Promotions, claiming the ID was fake.

“We do not have any record of hiring (Zhao) as a consultant. As I mentioned, we don’t issue IDs for consultants—only for local government employees in Lapu-Lapu City,” Chan stated.

Zhao was among 16 foreign nationals charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with the POGO hub at the Tourist Garden Hotel Resort in Barangay Agus, which was raided on August 31. He was identified as the leader of the operation.

Further reports revealed that Zhao serves as the president of both the Tourist Garden Hotel and the “Lapu-Lapu City Chinese Guild.”

Residents noted that the mayor had long been acquainted with Zhao.

On September 19, 2019, Chan publicly thanked Zhao via Facebook for donating 22 computer units to the city’s e-Library, which provided students with internet access, Wi-Fi, and free printing services.

On February 13, 2020, Chan also expressed gratitude to the Lapu-Lapu City Chinese Guild for donating 18 computer units to the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office and Pangan-an Elementary School on Olango Island.

Additionally, on November 28, 2020, Chan acknowledged the Tourist Garden Hotel, the Lapu-Lapu City Chinese Guild, and another business for donating four solar panels and three computer units to local schools.

Chan was also in attendance at the Spring Festival Gala Party for the Chinese New Year at the Tourist Garden Hotel on January 22, 2020.

ia/mnm

MANILA — Authorities rescued 187 foreign and Filipino workers during a raid at a Philippine Overseas Gaming Operator (POGO) center in Pampanga province on Tuesday night.

In a report on Wednesday (05 June 2024), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) revealed that its members, along with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Special Action Force, and local police, executed a search warrant operation against the Lucky South 99 compound located along Friendship Highway in Angeles City.

The Malolos City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 issued the search warrant based on reports of human trafficking, torture, and scam activities occurring within the establishment.

“The reports we received indicated that individuals were being tortured here. They were struck with baseball bats and kicked. We also have a video allegedly showing a woman being forced to dance and abused by the bosses,” PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said in a television interview.

A total of 157 foreigners, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Myanmar, and Korean workers, were rescued, along with 29 Filipinos.

PAOCC stated that all rescued foreigners are now undergoing biometric checks by the Bureau of Immigration.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros has lauded the Philippine National Police for their prompt response in relieving Pasay City police officers from their positions following the discovery of a sex den close to the police station.

Allegedly, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) was involved in illegal acts of human trafficking near the police station.

“It’s hard to believe that such blatant torture and prostitution were occurring in a large building, and they were unaware of it? It’s impossible,” Hontiveros remarked.

The Committee on Women will conduct an on-site inspection of the building on Friday to assess the extent of the issue, the senator added.

“We extend our gratitude to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and the PNP Women and Children Protection Center for leading the raid that exposed the illegal activities in this POGO and for rescuing the victims of human trafficking,” Hontiveros expressed.

Earlier, PNP Spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo stated that the Pasay Police chief is under investigation for possible neglect of duty, considering that this Pogo establishment has been operating for a significant period.

“How is it possible that they did not detect the presence of illegal activities in the area?” Fajardo previously questioned.

(ai/mnm)

NAKAKUHA ang Senate Committee on Ways and Means na pinamumunuan ni Senador Win Gatchalian ng sapat na suporta para sa panawagan nito na paalisin na ang Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) sa layuning mapanatili ang kapayapaan at kaayusan sa bansa at mapalago ang ekonomiya.

“Isa itong mahalagang hakbang para mapigilan ang paglaganap ng krimeng nagmumula sa ilang kompanya ng POGO. Inaasahan natin na maabot ang ating layunin na mapanatili ang kaayusan sa bansa, na siyang magdudulot ng paglago ng ating ekonomiya,” wika ni Gatchalian pagkatapos niyang ihain ang Committee Report No. 136 na naglalaman ng rekomendasyon.

Sa nakalipas na ilang buwan, isinusulong na ni Gatchalian ang pagsasara ng mga POGO sa bansa at naninindigan ito na anumang kita na nakukuha sa industriya ay hindi katumbas ng napakalaking ginugugol ng gobyerno sa paglaban sa mga krimen na nauugnay sa mga POGO.

Ang committee report ay nananawagan para sa pagpapatibay ng isang resolusyon na humihimok sa executive department na itigil na ang operasyon ng mga POGO sa bansa. Ito ay naglalayong pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mamamayang Pilipino at mapanatili ang paglago at pag-unlad ng bansa alinsunod sa mga repormang pang-ekonomiya ng administrasyon.

Sa ilalim pa rin ng committee report, hinihimok ni Gatchalian ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na maghanap ng alternatibong trabaho para sa mga Pilipino na nagtatrabaho sa mga POGO. Maaari silang makahanap ng trabaho sa industriya ng Information Technology Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPOs) at manufacturing sa pamamagitan ng wastong koordinasyon.

Hinihimok din ng committee report ang Bureau of Immigration (BI) na kanselahin at bawiin ang mga working visa na ibinibigay sa mga dayuhang nagtatrabaho sa kompanya ng POGO at ipatupad ang kanilang deportasyon alinsunod sa mga patakaran at regulasyon ng ahensiya.

“Malinaw sa datos na ating nakalap nitong mga nakaraang buwan na ginagamit ng mga kawatan ang POGO para makapagsagawa ng mga krimen na kinabibilangan ng human trafficking, at iba pang investment tulad ng crypto-currency at love scam,” sabi ni Gatchalian.

Umabot na sa 4,355 ang kabuuang bilang ng mga biktima ng POGO-related crimes na may kabuuang 903 perpetrators mula Enero 2017 hanggang Hunyo 30 ng taong ito, batay sa inilabas na ulat ng Philippine National Police. Ayon sa PNP, ang mga krimeng nagawa sa naturang mga insidente ay kinabibilangan ng human trafficking, forcible abduction, homicide, illegal detention, kidnapping-for-ransom, theft, robbery-extortion, serious physical injuries, swindling, grave coercion, at iba pa.

(Jr Amigo/ai/mnm)