Rep. Suarez notes drop in scam texts after Pogo ban
MANILA, Philippines — It appears that scam text messages, which claim the receiver won a raffle prize or direct them to shady websites designed to extract confidential information, have gone away after a total ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) was declared.
This was the observation made by Deputy Speaker David Suarez on Wednesday when he and other lawmakers were asked about the House of Representatives probe into crimes allegedly linked to Pogos.
Suarez said in a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex that the scam or phishing messages went away after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the announcement to ban Pogos.
READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’
“I just want to add to what my colleagues have said, haven’t you observed, since it was announced by the President that Pogos are banned, we have not received any scam text? It drastically went down for me,” Suarez said.
“Before I used to have four or five scam messages, but now I do not receive any message asking people to click on a particular link and receive this reward. Haven’t you noticed that?” Suarez asked.
Article continues after this advertisementDespite the presence of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Law, phishing attempts have been prominent, with anonymous cell phone numbers still being able to send messages.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: SIM registration law failed, says lawmaker
According to Suarez, this might be another indication that Pogos have been used for criminal activities.
“So, I think that is one clear example that what the President said is correct, that Pogos have already morphed into other illegal activities such as scam, prostitution, human trafficking, murder, and all sorts of other things that was not even within the realm of Pogo to begin with,” Suarez said.
“So, for me, if we need a law, I’m sure with the public opinion on our side, the support coming from the Senators and here in the House, we can pass a bill banning Pogos in our country,” he added.
Suarez’s comments came as the House committee on public order and safety as well as the committee on games and amusements held their third hearing on the problems brought about by Pogos. The hearing continued despite Marcos’ ban, as lawmakers believe those behind illegal activities must be held accountable.
READ: Pogo probe to continue despite ban: Violators should be held accountable
No less than Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez himself ordered House leaders and officials to quickly craft a bill that would ban Pogos so that the prohibition would stay even as President Marcos steps down from office in 2028.
READ: Total Pogo ban bill needed, Romualdez tells lawmakers
Several issues have been linked to Pogos, especially after authorities raided gaming hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga earlier this year.
During the joint committee hearing last July 17, a Pogo worker rescued from Bamban identified as “Dylan” said that a friend invited him to celebrate the Chinese New Year last February 10 at the Baofu Land Development Inc. compound in the town.
However, his friend left him there to be sold for P300,000 to the Pogo under Zun Yuan, which sits on the Baofu compound. Pogo officials eventually said that Dylan would have to work there unless he could pay off the money used to buy him.
READ: Rescued Malaysian testifies Chinese sold him to Bamban Pogo for P300,000
Dylan was one of the 800 Pogo workers rescued in the Bamban hub, which has been linked to suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo. According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Guo has business interests at Baofu, as she acquired eight parcels of land when she was president of the company.
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.”
