Marcos told to ban POGO for good

📷 Senator Sherwin Gatchalian | OneNews.PH

FOR as long as POGO hubs are operating, there is no way that the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies could stop heinous crimes.

According to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, there are reasons to be alarmed with the POGO operation even as he claimed that Chinese mafia members masquerading as offshore gaming operators have been equipping local crime syndicates with “whatever is needed.”

Gatchalian said that security and law enforcement agencies discussed confidential information about illegal POGOs and their possible connection with suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

“Kinabahan ako, kinilabutan ako, kasi ibig sabihin lumalalim na ang galamay ng POGO. Kampante ang ating law enforcement agencies… na naging ‘enabler’ ng POGO si Guo at pagpasok nitong POGO dito sa ating bansa. Merong ebidensya ang mga enforcement agencies pagdating diyan.”

Guo, who did not attend the Senate executive session, is accused of enabling illegal POGOs in Bamban, where criminal activities which include online scam operations and human trafficking have been traced.

The mayor denied allegations.

During the executive session, Gatchalian said that he himself asked the national security agencies to recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the banning of POGOs in the Philippines as soon as possible, for which government security officials in attendance agreed.

“Pag lumalim nang lumalim ang ugat nito napakahirap nang bunutin sa ating bansa. Panawagan ko sa Pangulo, i-ban na itong POGO, ‘wag tingnan ang isang side lang, ‘yung kita, kundi ‘yung kabuuan na nakakasira sa ating lipunan,” the senator concluded. (ANGEL F. JOSE)