Military generals back complete closure of Pogos nationwide
INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Military generals support the call of lawmakers and other groups to completely shut down Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) sites nationwide as they can be used as a front for surveillance of government agencies.
Retired Vice Adm. Emilio Marayag, president and board chairman of the Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO), said Pogos pose “serious security risks.”
“Many of these gambling outlets are used as fronts by organized crime groups for human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping, cyber scam, illegal drug trade, torture, surveillance and cyberattack on government agencies and other offenses that severely threaten Filipino values and security,” Marayag said in a statement.
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Last week, the chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Alejandro Tengco, said the agency placed the licenses of 300 Pogos under probationary status sometime in September last year and only 46 of them got their accreditations back as part of a widespread crackdown against illegal activities of the offshore gaming sites.
Tengco said another crackdown was conducted on these remaining 46 sites, trimming down the total number of accredited sites — now called “internet gaming licensees” — to 43.
However, Tengco said the remaining 250 Pogo sites continued illegally operating.
Marayag noted that the reported continued operation of these sites without valid documents shows that its operators bribe government officials “to buy their silence and cooperation.”
“This unholy alliance between the Pogo and government officials attracts criminal syndicates to engage in illegal activities leading to national insecurity,” Marayag said.
The recent Pogo raid in Porac, Pampanga yielded suspicious findings like a suspected People’s Liberation Army uniform and insignia.
The alleged involvement of Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac, in the Pogo site near the municipal hall also made headlines, with the mayor’s real identity and citizenship also being questioned.
There are also lingering suspicions about certain Pogo site locations, with security expert Chester Cabalza even calling it a “Trojan horse” that could be used by China to stage a “surprise attack” against vital military installations.
