POGO provided monetary reward for every slain druggie

📷Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go

MOMENTS after tagging his mentor as drug protector, the police colonel referred to as “the butcher” seemed determined to disclose everything he knew – including the role of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the bloody war against drugs during the previous administration.

In his testimony before the House quad committee, Police Colonel Jovie Espenido confirmed the existence of a “pot” from which funds were drawn to reward police operatives who have “successfully neutralized” drug suspects.

According to Espenido, POGOs were made to shell out part of its earnings to defray the reward system wherein a certain amount is being given to police operatives forming part of what has been referred to as “drug stings.”

He then dragged former special assistant to the President, now Senator Bong Go as the designated conduit to POGO for the previous administration’s “Quota and Reward System,” even as he claimed that funds were funneled to ex-President Rodrigo Duterte’s most trusted lieutenant.

When asked as to how much money was involved, Espenido would only say that each slain drug suspect corresponds to a P20,000 reward. It was not certain though whether the same amount applies for high-value targets. (ANGEL F. JOSE)