Bato Dela Rosa: No match on West PH Sea? Let’s assert our ‘supremacy’ over Pogos

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA,  Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is urging the Philippine government to assert its supremacy over the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) if the same assertion cannot  be made over the contested West Philippine Sea.

“It’s about time (that) what we have to assert our supremacy over them,” Dela Rosa said as the Senate committees on ways and means and public order resumed its inquiry on Monday on the continued operations of Pogos in the country.

“Kung hindi natin kaya yung supremacy nila sa West Philippine Sea, we are supreme here dito sa ating Pogo operations. Nandito sila sa ating bansa, nandito sila sa ating teritoryo di ba? I-assert natin yung ating supremacy over them,” he stressed.

(If we can’t match their supremacy over the West Philippine Sea, we are supreme here in their Pogo operations. They are here in our country, in our territory right? Let’s assert our supremacy over them.)

Dela Rosa was directing his remarks to officials of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) present during the hearing.

Previously, the senator had taken note of police’s earlier claim of zero Pogo-related crime until Senator Grace Poe’s disclosure in a privilege speech last month about a new kidnapping incident related to the Pogo industry.

Dela Rosa then suggested to Pagcor to hold a summit of all legitimate Pogos and give them an “ultimatum” that “we will hang everyone” if another crime is committed in relation to Pogo operations.

“Huwag kayong matakot hindi naman ito mga Pilipino e, mga dayuhan ito. Sabihan nyo, you’re here in our country you should respect us. Huwag nyong babuyin ang aming bansa, lalong lalo na pagdating sa public order.”

(Don’t be afraid. They are not Filipinos. These are foreigners. Tell them, you’re here in our country you should respect us. Don’t bastardize our country, specially when it comes to public order.)

“Hawakan nyo sila sa leeg, andito kayo sa amin. We are Pagcor, we are the ones regulating you. Ayaw nyong sumunod sa batas namin then sorry tapos na tayo, wala ng usapan. Ganun ang gawin ninyo,” the senator added.

(Hold their neck, they are here with us. We are Pagcor, we are the ones regulating you. You don’t want to follow our rules then sorry, we’re done. That’s what you should do.)

But an official of Pagcor told the committees that the agency chairman, Alejandro Tengco, has already summoned all legal Pogos and warned them that their license would be revoked, and that they could be charged and deported if they get involved in any illegal activity.

Dela Rosa nevertheless asked Pagcor to kick out the two Pogo firms — Brickhartz Technology Inc. and MOA Cloudzone Corp.— allegedly connected with the kidnapping incident disclosed by Poe.

“Palayasin nyo na nyo yun dito. You don’t have business to be here in our country kung ganun ang ugali ninyo, ang sama ng ugali nyo,” the former police chief added.

(Ask them to leave. You don’t have business to be here in our country if that’s your attitude, you have a very bad attitude.)

JMS/abc