THE Armed Forces yesterday said it is conducting a probe to determine if the continued operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country are a threat to national security.
Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad made the remarks after operatives of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) found Chinese military uniforms during a research search at a raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Trinidad also noted the seizure of high-powered firearms at some POGO hubs that were earlier raided by authorities.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros recently urged President Marcos Jr. to consider POGOs as a national security threat and ban their operation in the country.
“Right now, we are looking into deeper connections of the POGOs to other violations which may go beyond common crimes,” Trinidad said.
Authorities have raided numerous POGO hubs in the past years due to involvement in human trafficking, kidnapping, and illegal detention, among others.
Asked if POGOs can now be considered as a national security threat, Trinidad said: “We haven’t yet reached that point.”
“What we have seen right now, and this is factual, is that there have been personnel connected with the POGOS… with high powered firearms, they have in their possession high-end vehicles which have been registered, so these are violations of common law, probably the Revised Penal Code,” said Trinidad.
PLA UNIFORMS
PAOCC personnel recovered six sets of Chinese military uniforms during the continuing search of the POGO hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga, said PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio yesterday, adding they are now investigating if Chinese military personnel are involved in the operation of the hub.
Lucky South 99 was raided last week on charges of human trafficking. Operatives rescued nearly 200 foreigners, mostly Chinese, and Filipinos during the operation.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military is helping in the PAOCC investigation.
“PAOCC is already conducting its investigation. On the part of the AFP, we will be supporting on (other) concern which is (related to) national security,” said Padilla.
Padilla said the military is verifying if the seized uniforms are legitimate Chinese military uniforms.
Asked if they find the recovery of these uniforms as alarming, Padilla said: “That is why we are conducting the proper investigation. When the result of the investigation (is available), we will inform the public accordingly.”
Later yesterday, Padilla said “the presence of Chinese military uniforms may likely be used as props” in the POGO’s illicit online transactions, such as online scams.
“The limited number of PLA (People’s Liberation Army) uniforms found suggests they are more indicative of use in deceptive activities rather than any preparation for an invasion,” she said as she downplayed fears of Chinese military personnel possibly operating in the country.
“We do not want to cause unnecessary panic. Rest assured, the AFP is committed to protecting the people and securing the state. We are fully cooperating with PAOCC’s ongoing investigation to clarify this matter,” she added.
Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III said the digitalized camouflage military uniform bearing PLA buttons may just be a “souvenir, collection, or even a fake uniform.”
“Marami ba? Kung isa-isa lang, then huwag na muna natin pag aksayahan ng oras yan (Is it plenty? If there was only one, then let’s not waste our time on that),” Pimentel said.
But Hontiveros said the discovery of the uniform “only corroborates information shared by intelligence agencies establishing credible links between POGOs and foreign intelligence assets.”
She said the seizure of the uniforms “should send chills down our spine” as it is clear that POGOs have exploited the country’s “economic vulnerabilities” that have now evolved into a breeding ground for crime and a national security threat.
With the latest development, Hontiveros called on the President to immediately ban POGOs from operating in the country.
“I will file a bill to repeal RA 11590 (an Act Taxing POGOs), passed during the Duterte administration on the taxation of POGOs. I said no to that law at ngayon ibabasura na natin ng tuluyan (and now we will totally junk it),” she said.
Senate president pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada said the discovery of the military uniforms “serve as a strong indication that the extent of scams perpetrated by these unscrupulous individuals” whether they are genuine or “mere props.”
Estrada said authorities should not disregard this and determine what their intended use are.
“Authorities investigating this POGO hub should thoroughly examine the extent of operations carried out by the suspected criminal syndicates associated with Lucky South Outsourcing Inc. Anong klaseng online scam ang nangangailangan ng props gamit ang uniporme ng PLA? (What kind of online scam needs props like the PLA uniform?)” he said.
Sen. Grace Poe said the government is spending millions of pesos in anti-POGO operations, money that could have been spent to alleviate the lives of the poor.
“For every operation against a POGO, the government spends millions for the personnel needed, food and shelter of the rescued, deportation of undesirables, filing of court cases, and other related expenses,” Poe said.
“We reiterate our call for a resolute policy banning POGOs. This will not only bring permanent halt to their illegal activities but will also plug the utilization of government resources which could have otherwise been spend on useful social services for our people.
We have seen enough. POGOs have done us more harm than good,” she added.
Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. said authorities should immediately act if they see the military uniform a threat to national security.
“While not rushing into conclusion, one cannot be blamed to be alarmed over the discovery,” Revilla said.
Revilla said his stand against POGOs remains especially now that crimes related to the industry have been discovered.
“We support any and all steps of the government in curbing these transgressions against the prevailing law in our country, and we stress that national security, welfare and the safety of our citizens should always take precedence,” he added.
Sen. Robin Padilla said the discovery of the military uniform can be considered a “threat” to the country.
“Clear and present danger yan sa atin (That is clear and present danger to us),” Padilla said in a chance interview in the Senate, adding that law enforcement agencies should double their efforts in preventing the entry of undesirables.
Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid said the Senate should include in its investigation the POGO hub raided in his hometown to unmask who are behind its operations.
RELIEVED
The PNP has ordered the relief of the chief of the Pampanga police provincial office pending probe on the illegal operation of the Lucky South 99 in Porac town.
The relief of Pampanga police director Col. Levi Hope Basilio came several days after the town’s police chief, Lt. Col. Palmyra Guardaya, was also removed from her post over the same case.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Basilio was ordered relieved on Monday by Central Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr.
“The provincial director of Pampanga PPO (police provincial office) was administratively relieved to give way to ongoing investigation,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said the investigation against both Basilio was meant to determine if there was “negligence in the supervision” on his part.
“Why was illegal operation of what we call the biggest scam farm in the province of Pampanga continued?” she asked, pointing out that the license to operate of Lucky South 99 was canceled last year.
“Let us wait for the result of the investigation, if there will be determination of failure of intelligence, failure of intelligence on the part of the chief of Porac and the provincial director (that will warrant) the filing of administrative cases against them,” said Fajardo, referring to Guardaya and Basilio.
“I don’t want to preempt the ongoing investigation,” she added,
POGO BAN
Militant lawmakers yesterday filed a bill seeking to prohibit and criminalize the operations of POGOs in the country, saying it has “increasingly become a social menace and a source of unimaginable corruption” by mocking Philippine laws against money laundering, immigration violations, tax evasion, and other criminal offenses.
Party-list Reps. France Castro (ACT), Arlene Brosas (Gabriela) and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan) filed House Bill 10525 or the proposed “Anti-POGO Act.”
“POGOs have brought with them a swarm of crimes as testified by countless police raids – rape, murder, illegal recruitment, human trafficking, prostitution, illegal detention, inhumane labor practices, money laundering, and immigration bribery, among many others,” the resolution said.
“Their supposed economic benefits have also been negligible compared to the social costs they have inflicted on our people and communities. It is high time we put a stop to this social menace,” it added.
The bill also seeks to revoke all licenses granted to POGOs, make POGO operations a predicate crime to money laundering and human trafficking offenses, and imposes penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and P10 million in fines.
It also prohibits agencies from issuing work permits and visas for purposes of offshore gaming, and requires an annual compliance report from responsible agencies.
“We call on our colleagues in Congress to swiftly approve this bill that will protect Filipino families and communities from the proliferation of crimes and social ills brought about by POGOs,” the resolution said.
For his part, Rep. Brian Yamsuan (PL, Bicol Saro) filed HBN 1279 seeking to impose stiffer penalties against foreigners working illegally in the country, proposing an imprisonment of up to six years and a substantial increase on the fine imposed on them – from the current P10,000 to P50,000 for every year of unlawful employment.
Yamsuan filed the measure following the arrest last week of 37 Chinese nationals for allegedly running illicit retail and restaurant operations in Parañaque City.
Senators have also earlier filed a resolution seeking an investigation into complaints by several Multinational Village homeowners in the city’s Barangay Moonwalk about the influx in their subdivision of Chinese nationals suspected of being involved in illegal POGOs.
Police arrested 10 Chinese nationals last May 2, also in Multinational Village, for alleged human trafficking.
“We certainly welcome foreign nationals in our country if they have valid employment permits (EPs) and if they do not compete with our equally, and at most times better, skilled workforce. But we should draw the line when it comes to foreigners who not only work here illegally, but also pose a threat to the peace and order in our communities,” Yamsuan said in HB 1279.
Yamsuan said the current P10,000 fine imposed on foreigners found illegally working in the country is too “paltry” and should be hiked to P50,000 for every year of continuing violation.
Under HB 1279, nonresident foreign nationals who have secured EPs but chose to transfer to another job or employer without approval of the secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), shall be penalized with a fine ranging from P50,000 to P100,000.
Upon the discretion of the court, the erring foreign worker shall also be punished with imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than six years. The same penalties will also be imposed on the foreign worker’s employer. Moreover, the foreign worker shall be deported after completing his or her jail term.
An employer or any of his or her authorized representative found to have hired nonresident foreigners to illegally work in the country shall be fined from P100,000 to P200,000 under the bill. The punishment may also include an order by the DOLE to suspend or order the closure of the employer’s business operations.
“In all cases, the fines imposed herein shall be without prejudice to other administrative, civil or criminal liability that may incur by reason of such act or omission,” the bill likewise states.
HB 1279 also provides for a labor market test to ensure that foreign workers are given EPs only after the determination of the non-availability of qualified Filipinos willing to perform the job required of these foreign workers.
The DOLE is authorized to grant exemptions to the labor market test if the professional expertise of the foreign worker-applicant cannot be met by the existing labor supply.
HB 1279 also includes a provision that requires foreign nationals with EPs to transfer relevant skills and knowledge to at least two Filipino understudies in the enterprise where they are employed within a period prescribed by the DOLE.
Failure to abide by this provision under the bill penalizes the foreign national with a fine of not less than P100,000 for every year of non-compliance, without prejudice to the non-renewal of his or her work permit, and the blacklisting of the local employer.
The measure also mandates DOLE to maintain a registry of foreign nationals indicating their respective status of employment and the issuance of EPs to them. — With Raymond Africa and Wendell Vigilia
