Metro Manila, Philippines – Senator Joel Villanueva is asking authorities to verify reports that “three or four” local executives in Luzon could be involved in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
At Wednesday’s Kapihan sa Senado forum, Villanueva said he received social media complaints from people worried about possible illegal POGO operations in their communities. He mentioned Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.
While these are “raw information,” he said these could not be ignored.
“With the amount of money that’s flowing from these operations, lobbyists coming from chief executives, from local government units, I’m almost sure na meron po (there are local officials involved),” Villanueva said.
“For example, nireport na nila sa kanilang munisipyo yung nangyayari sa kanilang lugar pero wala pong aksyon, may mga nakatambay for example sa isang probinsya na tatlumpu hanggang apatnapung Chinese individuals na mukhang hindi legal,” he added.
[Translation: For example, they have reported to their municipality about what’s happening in their area, but there hasn’t been any action. There are around thirty to forty Chinese individuals loitering in a province who seem to be undocumented.]
Villanueva said he forwarded some of the complaints to the police and the National Bureau of Investigation, and even called up one local government unit to verify.
He also questioned the construction activities on the property of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in Marilao, Bulacan. “Sana ay aware dito yung LGU (I hope the LGU is aware of this).”
Guo is facing a number of investigations for her alleged involvement in the illegal POGO that operated in her locality. The Office of the Solicitor General is also seeking her ouster as mayor saying she is not a FIlipino but a Chinese citizen who cannot hold a government post.
Villanueva said with the widening influence of POGOs, he would not be surprised if some executive, legislative, and judiciary members may be involved.
“Again, you’re talking about billions and billions of pesos, we commend the president for doing this (ban) because it’s also not also easy for the president to say what he said, considering that some people around him are also into it,” Villanueva said.
He said he is hoping President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and the Senate leadership would prioritize his proposed anti-POGO bill, which seeks to institutionalize the ban.
“We [want] to make sure that the POGO ban should go beyond the present admin. Napakalahaga na matanggal natin lahat ng bakas ng POGO sa ating bayan,” Villanueva said.
[Translation: We want to make sure that the POGO ban goes beyond the present administration. It is very important that we remove all traces of POGO from our country.]
