Pogo probe to continue despite ban: Violators should be held accountable

POGO WORKERS composite image from Inquirer file and stock photos

MANILA, Philippines — At least two lawmakers from the House of Representatives have assured the public that investigations of illegal activities linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) will continue, despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ban.

Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez on separate occasions on Monday said investigations would push through because there is a need to seek accountability from those behind illegal Pogos.

“I’m one of those members of Congress who are very, very happy with the announcement that there will be a total ban on all Pogos dito sa bansa.  Bakit?  Kasi alam naman natin na ang Pogo ay siyang ugat ng pag-taas ng krimen dito,” Barbers, vice chairperson of the committee on public order and safety that is tasked to probe the issue, said.

(I’m one of those members of Congress who are very, very happy with the announcement that there will be a total ban on all Pogos in the country.  Why?  Because we know that the Pogos have been the root of rising crime rates here.)

“We will proceed with our investigation because we must put to rest the issue of accountability ‘no, maraming local government officials na involved na kung saan hindi dumaan sa tamang proseso, number one.  Number two, maraming mga miyembro ng Philippine National Police, most likely ay involved din,” he added.

(We will proceed with our investigation because we must put to rest the issue of accountability ‘no, there are several local government officials involved in allowing processes to proceed erroneously, that’s number one.  Number two, there are many members of the Philippine National Police who are most likely involved also.)

Gomez meanwhile reiterated that whatever revenues generated by Pogos have outweighed the problems it has caused the country.

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“I’m very happy about it and I was really waiting for the President to announce the banning of Pogos, I think it’s very good for us and if we talk about the P7 billion annual income of Pogos, that’s very small as compared to the social costs it brings,” Gomez said.

“The investigation will continue because of the criminal acts that happened,” he added.

Marcos announced earlier in his 2024 State of the Nation Address (Sona) that all Pogos are banned — drawing cheers and a standing ovation from lawmakers and guests present at the Batasang Pambansa complex.

No less than Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has thrown his support to Marcos’ declaration, saying that the “bold move” highlights the Chief Executive’s “commitment to lawful economic practices.”

READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’ 

The committee started investigating Pogos last July 17, upon the directions of Speaker Romualdez.  During the hearing, it was revealed that a Pogo worker identified as “Dylan” — not his real name — was sold to the illegal Pogo in Bamban, Tarlac, for P300,000.

Dylan said his friend, a Chinese national, invited him to the Baofu compound to celebrate the Chinese New Year last February 10, 2024.  However, his friend left him there, and Pogo officials eventually said that Dylan would have to work there unless he can pay off the money used to buy him.

The Pogo where Dylan was rescued from was raided on March 13, leading to the rescue of 371 Filipinos and 497 foreigners.

READ: Over 800 Filipinos, foreign Pogo workers rescued in Tarlac raid 

The Pogo was linked to now suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) accused the local chief executive of having business interests in Baofu Land Development Inc.

Baofu owns the land where the raided Pogo sits.  DILG said Baofu, as represented by Guo who was president of the company, purchased eight parcels of land in Bamban last February 2019.

Guo claims to have divested ownership of Baofu, but DILG believes the amount she divested it for — P2.5 million — was “grossly incongruent to her investment on Baufo which is approximately eight hectares of land”.

There have been proposals to totally ban Pogos in the country.  Last June 11, Makabayan bloc lawmakers in the House of Representatives filed House Bill (HB) No. 10525 or the proposed Anti-Pogo Act of 2024 — which will revoke existing licenses and ban future Pogos due to the social cost it brings.

READ: House bill filed to ban Pogos, revoke licenses 

Several Pogo workers were found to have suffered torture at the hands of operators, while they were illegally detained.

During the hearing proper, videos of male and female Pogo workers being punched or hit with metal bats and sticks, and even electrocuted using tasers were shown at the Nograles hall of the Batasang Pambansa complex, and at the YouTube and Facebook livestream of the House of Representatives.

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston John Casio explained that the workers were tortured if they are caught attempting to escape the Pogo facility.