đź“·PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio | Philippine News Agency
WITH so much to spare, the government allayed fears over the possibility of illegal offshore gaming firms pouring campaign funds to gain leverage among politicians running for public office in the 2025 midterm election.
But even before it happens, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) have issued warnings against the idea of compromising the integrity of the democratic process in exchange for campaign funds.
“Whether we like it or not sa totoo lang kung minsan itong mga perang illegal na ito ay ginagamit to prop up candidates. Yun ang masaklap dito, all of these things could possibly affect an election,” Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos was quoted as saying in a television news report.
Citing data from the PAOCC, POGO hubs are earning a whopping P2 billion in revenues per month from illegal activities – money laundering, fraudulent bitcoin trading, cryptocurrency scam, gambling, prostitution, human trafficking, and illegal drug trade among others.
For PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio, local politicians owing their government elective posts to the “donation” coming from the illegal POGOs are subsequently made into hostages, and are bound to return the favor in the form of pampering or protecting the illicit activities behind the so-called “enterprise.”
“Ang isang corrupt na pulitiko, kung siya ay alkalde ng isang bayan, hindi mo na kailangan mag-apply ng kahit ano pang dokumento, you can just operate anytime,” Casio averred.
“Bulag, pipi ang bingi ang isang corrupt na pulitiko kapag nasusuhulan ng mga POGO,” he added.
Relatedly, the Philippine National Police (PNP) made a sweeping claim that the expansive illegal POGO hubs in Bamban and Porac are interconnected.
No other details were provided though, in view of an ongoing investigation.
During separate raids, operatives observed common denominators in the POGO facilities in Bamban and Porac – torture chambers, authentic People’s Liberation Army uniforms, sophisticated cloning devices, tens of thousands of SIM cards, cubicles for sex slaves, etc.
PAOCC also discovered that a number of arrested Chinese nationals are fugitives and facing criminal charges in their country. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
