In the aftermath of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) raids in both Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga, Sen. Risa Hontiveros on June 17 sounded the alarm over the reported involvement of former Technology and Resource Center (TRC) deputy director general, Dennis Cunanan.
The senator revealed documents showing Cunanan, who was sentenced to a 26-year jail term for his involvement in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, acted as an “authorized representative” for the Hong Sheng POGO in Bamban, as well as the Lucky South POGO in Porac.
“Cunanan figured in one of the largest corruption scandals our country has ever seen. He might have applied to POGO what he did in PDAF.”
“This also shows there’s a connection between the POGO operations in Bamban and POGO,” she said.
Hontiveros said they will invite Cunanan to the next hearing to clarify his involvement.
She also said it would seem that POGOs are deliberately tapping former and present officials they can easily corrupt.
Hontiveros, who is leading the inquiry into the participation of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo in POGO scam operations, stressed that influencing public officials is part of POGOs’ strategy to continue their criminal activities in the country.
“I call on my fellow public servants to join the growing call to ban POGOs now. We must show these POGOs that the Philippines does not have a price.”
Meanwhile, Senate leaders have aired their support for Defense Sec. Teodoro Gibo to stop the illegal POGO operations in the country.
“I agree with Sec. Teodoro who seems to be referring to illegal POGO operations because he said that ‘(they) do not operate as intended,'” stressed Senate President Francis Escudero.
In fact, he said all illegal POGOs should be closed whether they are close to military bases or not and their perpetrators arrested.
“If, on the other hand, he is also referring to ‘legal’ POGOs, then I suggest that he discuss this matter of ‘national concern’ with PAGCOR as it may involve national security,” added Escudero.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said that aside from security concerns raised on POGO operations near military bases, he pointed out reports on some 250 others operating without licenses.
He said this should prompt concerned authorities to conduct a crackdown on these illegal entities.
The senator also said PAGCOR should immediately order the closure of illegal or unlicensed POGOs if they have enough information about its illegal operations.
With PAGCOR’s coordination with the Bureau of Immigration, the visa of workers of unlicensed POGOs should be cancelled and deportation proceedings should be immediately started.
He said, “we can get no benefit from their operation as they have been involved in several crimes aside from their failure to pay correct taxes,”
Sen. Loren Legarda said, “Deport the mainland Chinese who are illegally operating in the POGOs especially those involved in criminal activities,” she added.
