Duterte receiving one-sided report from PAGCOR on POGOs — Gatchalian

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte may be receiving a “one-sided” report from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) regarding the controversy-ridden Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

Gatchalian made this observation after the President refused to heed calls on the suspension of POGOs amid crimes allegedly connected to the industry.

“Kung ang mag bri-brief sa kanya ay Pagcor, definitely one-sided yan. Alam naman natin na ang PAGCOR nakasarado na ang kanyang isip sa POGO dahil siya lang ang kumikita, ang Pagcor ay kumikita ng P6 billion a year pero siya lang nag kumikita, ang BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) hindi kumikita,” he said.

(If Pagcor is the one who would brief the President, that would definitely be one-sided. We know Pagcor has closed its mind because it earns P6 billion a year but it is the only one that is earning, the BIR, it’s not earning).

Several senators already sounded the alarm over the proliferation of crimes believed to be connected to Pogos, such as money laundering, prostitution, and trafficking.

In a Senate hearing last week, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) told senators that P14 billion of the P54 billion in transactions by Pogos from 2017 to 2019  was linked to “suspicious activities.”

Figures presented by AMLC Executive Director Mel Racela during hearing showed that around P138 million in Pogo transactions were linked to drug trafficking.

“We have to remember ang Pagcor, kolekta ng kolekta lang, hindi naman siya yung nagre-raid, hindi naman siya yung nanghuhuli ng kidnappers, hindi naman siya nanghuhuli ng prostitusyon den, yung mga pulis natin yung mga nanghuhuli doon so hindi niya nararamdaman yung problema sa ating komunidad,” Gatchalian poinnted out.

(We have to remember that what Pagcor does is collect and collect, it does not conduct raids, they are not the ones apprehending kidnappers, raiding prostitution dens, the police are the one who are doing these and (Pagcor) does see the problem n the community).

Misinformed?

“Wala na, sarado na isip. Kung Pagcor again yung mag bri-brief sa ating Pangulo e talagang ibibigay lang nila yung magaganda at hindi ibibigay yung mga nararamdaman ng ating kababayan,” he said.

(They are close-minded. If Pagcor will be the one to brief the President again, they will just inform the President of the good things and not the complaints of the community).

READ: POGOs should continue due to income earned? That’s a ‘stupid’ remark — Drilon

“Nabasa ko sa news, Pagcor yung apparently nag-brief but I don’t know the full extent of his briefing, wala naman ako doon,” he further said.

(I read in the news that it was Pagcor who apparently briefed the President but I don’t know the full extent of his briefing, I was not there).

Gatchalian then suggested that the President could tap other sources for information regarding the Pogo industry.

“I think ang importante dito tignan ang kabuuan. Imbitahan ang NEDA (National Economic Development Authority), imbitahan ang PNP (Philippines National Police), imbitahan ang LGUs (local government units),” he said.

EDV