đź“· Senator Sherwin Gatchalian | OneNews.PH
IN what appears to be a subtle confirmation of suspicion over Chinese espionage, members of the raiding team who swooped down the vacated POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga recovered three sets of military uniform which looks more like the ones being used by the China’ People’s Liberation Army.
According to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the People’s Liberation Army uniforms and some military pins discovered are “clear evidence that Pogos are a national security threat to our nation.”
“It has opened the doors, not only to criminal syndicates, but also to those who want to destabilize and infiltrate our governmental and political institutions. This is another reason why the administration should no longer allow them to operate in our country,” said Gatchalian.
However, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel II finds no big deal if only a few uniforms were found.
“Marami ba? Kung isa isa lang then wag na muna natin pag aksayahan ng oras yan. Baka souvenir or collection lamang. Pwede rin fake uniform lang,” Pimentel told Senate reporters.
Interestingly, Pimentel’s lone partner in the Senate minority disagreed. According to Senator Risa Hontiveros, the implications of these uniforms is something for Filipinos to be worried about.
“The discovery of these uniforms only proves the information shared by intelligence agencies that there are credible links between Pogos and foreign intelligence assets… someone is hellbent on compromising our sovereignty,” Hontiveros said in a statement sent to the Senate media office.
“It is so clear that every Pogo has exploited our economic vulnerabilities and that Pogos have now evolved into a breeding ground for crime and a national security threat. All POGOs are bad,” added Hontiveros who hinted at plans to file a bill repealing Republic Act No. 11590 which was signed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
RA 11590, which amended the National Internal Revenue Code, provided provisions to impose more taxes – on top of franchise – to offshore gaming operators.
PAOCC also recovered from the raid site identification cards of a foreigner bearing different names, for which PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio called it a disturbing discovery. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
