Duterte set bad example for POGOS - Hontiveros

With his open door policy on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO), former president Rodrigo Duterte set a bad example that bred illegal online gaming scams and other serious criminal activities in the country like human trafficking, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said yesterday.

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

Hontiveros, chair of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, said it was during the Duterte administration that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) was given the mandate to issue licenses to POGOs, particularly his partners in the business.

Hontiveros’ panel is investigating alleged human trafficking and cyber fraud operations at establishments in Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

The inquiry has led to the discovery of illegal activities at POGO hubs including the one in Bamban, Tarlac whose mayor – Alice Guo – was found to be Chinese using fake documents to pass herself off as Filipino. Her fingerprints match with those of Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.

The Senate investigation also prompted PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco to reveal that a former Cabinet member had lobbied for POGOs.

Senators, including Senate President Francis Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian and Juan Miguel Zubiri have called on Tengco to name the official at the next hearing of Hontiveros’ committee.

Hontiveros also noted efforts by PAGCOR to rebrand POGOs by calling them internet gaming licensees (IGLs) run by the same operators.

“Now they are changing the instrument. They said they have this IGL, an internet gaming license. But wait, they should step on the brakes – they’re still facilitating POGO,” she said.