PAGCOR says it will name 'controversial individuals' linked to illegal POGOs | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

dpo-dps-seal
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!

PAGCOR says it will name 'controversial individuals' linked to illegal POGOs

PAGCOR says it will name 'controversial individuals' linked to illegal POGOs

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Jun 29, 2024 06:52 PM PHT

Clipboard

MANILA (UPDATED) — A former high-ranking government official tried to facilitate the grant of gaming licenses to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hubs engaging in illegal activities, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has alleged in a statement.

PAGCOR did not name the former official, saying only that it was a former member of the Cabinet.

"The PAGCOR chief said he will reveal in the proper forum the identity of the former Cabinet member who had been lobbying for the illegal POGOs, as well as the circumstances that led to the proliferation of illegal and criminal offshore gaming operations," the regulator said in a statement.

PAGCOR has been in focus after raids in POGO compounds in Pampanga and Tarlac found indications of criminal activity, including human trafficking, torture and investment scams.

ADVERTISEMENT

SENATE HEARING

Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros plans to hold a hearing regarding the PAGCOR official’s purported revelation.

Hontiveros, who has been leading the Senate probe on illegal POGO operations, hopes the PAGCOR official “deems it the right forum to reveal what he knows.”

"Umaasa ako na si Chair Tengco mismo ang dadating sa susunod na pagdinig at hindi na ang mga kinatawan niya lang,” she said in a statement Saturday.

“Whoever that ex-Cabinet official turns out to be, the fact remains: POGOs are being used as a legal cover for scam hubs. Napatunayan na ng imbestigasyon sa Senado na kahit pa may ligal na lisensya mula mismo sa PAGCOR, may mga criminal activities parin na nangyayari sa POGO.”

ADVERTISEMENT

PAGCOR'S 'CLEANSING PROCESS' FOR POGOS

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said authorities should also probe the role of former officials in granting licenses to POGO applicants "with dubious backgrounds."

“As a regulator, it is our mandate to ensure that only those with valid licenses are allowed to operate all forms of gambling and gaming activities, whether these are land-based casinos or online platforms,”  Tengco said.

Government authorities are currently doing operations against illegal POGO operators, the latest being the seizure of a leisure park in Pampanga.

“What we need to question, in the first place, was how those 298 POGO licensees were able to secure their licensees in the past because clearly, during our cleansing process, we found most of them to be ineligible and outright suspicious,” Tengco said.

“We are also ready to reveal the roles of other controversial individuals behind these criminal POGO enterprises,” Tengco added. 

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.