PNP chief: Pogo hubs not threat to nat’l security

Chinese-staffed Philippine offshore gaming operation (Pogo) hubs near police and military camps do not pose “any threat to our security” just yet, Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde, the Philippine National Police chief, said on Friday.

Albayalde told reporters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City that foreigners normally set up their businesses near police stations or camps for security reasons.

“So far we do not see any movement from them or any threat to our security,” he said.

Albayalde’s comment came amid concerns earlier raised by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that Pogo hubs established near military camps, although currently in operation solely for business, could easily be turned into facilities that could be used for spying activities by the Chinese government.

Lorenzana particularly cited Pogo hubs located at Araneta Center and Eastwood in Quezon City, both near Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame—headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP, respectively.

Other Pogo hubs were reportedly located in proximity with the headquarters of the Philippine Air Force in Pasay City, the Philippine Army in Taguig City, and the Philippine Navy in Manila.

“If you are a business owner and you have a facility near a police station or camp, you already feel safe. That’s one of their considerations,” Albayalde said.

But Albayalde earlier said it would be “detrimental” to national security if there would be too many Pogo centers near police and military camps. —CATHRINE GONZALES