Pagcor chief Tengco appears in Senate probe into Pogos

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (Photo from PAGCOR/INQUIRER files)

MANILA,  Philippines — Will Philippine  Amusement and Gaming Corporation  (Pagcor) chief   Alejandro  Tengco now reveal the former  Cabinet official who had been lobbying for some illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators  (Pogos)?

Tengco appeared on Wednesday in the ongoing investigation by the Senate committee on women into Pogo-related crimes.

His attendance followed  his earlier revelation  that the former high-ranking government  official “tried  to facilitate the grant of gaming licenses to some illegal Pogos.”

Tengco, in a statement on June 29,  promised to reveal in the proper forum the identity of the “former Cabinet member” who had been lobbying for illegal Pogos.

READ: Hontiveros hoping Pagcor chief to reveal name of ex-official behind Pogo

“It is in the interest of the government to crack the whip against illegal operators, including the so-called offshore gaming operators, or Pogos and their backers, because the criminal activities associated with their illegal operations pose serious threats to our people,” he said then.

As expected,  suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo was a no-show in the hearing, supposedly due to her “worsening” physical and mental conditions and alleged threats to her life.

READ: Guo cites health, death threats in ‘excuse letter’ to Senate

Guo has been at the center of the probe for her supposed ties to the raided  Pogo firms in her town of Bamban, Tarlac. She repeatedly denied the allegation.