PNP logs 38 Pogo-related criminal cases since January 2022

MANILA, Philippines —Since the beginning of this year, 38 criminal cases relating to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) have been reported by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Senator JV Ejercito asked whether or not illegal activity by Pogos or foreign nationals has continued after the initial hearing of the panel on the industry before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

Police Major General Eliseo Cruz, chief of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, replied that the PNP has not listed any incident in October.

“The PNP had recorded a total of 38 cases or incidents and most of these cases happened or transpired in January of this year. But for this month, we have not recorded any incident relating to Pogo cases,” he told Ejercito, noting that the record is from January 1 to October 6 this year.

The 38 cases include 16 kidnapping for ransom cases and five trafficking-in persons cases, said Cruz.

Cruz attributed the zero Pogo-related crime in October to increased police visibility, especially in Pasay, Makati, Muntinlupa and Las Piñas — cities where many Pogo firms are located.

“In fact, our chief PNP Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. immediately directed the regional directors of NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office), PRO (Police Regional Office) 4A and PRO 3 to maximize our deployment in these areas wherein Pogo establishments are located particularly in the southern part of Metro Manila,” said Cruz.

Moreover, PNP Police Security and Protection Group Director Brigadier General Juel Neil Salcedo said that no cop from their unit is escorting Pogo workers.

“In fact, sir, based on our record, sir, we don’t have any police escort coming from our unit or escorting for Pogo workers, sir,” he said to Ejercito.

The Senate panel launched an investigation on Pogos on October 3 amid an alleged spate of abduction cases linked to the industry. Trisha Manalaysay, INQUIRER.net trainee