Sen. Sonny Angara during the hearing of the Committee on Finance in this photo taken in September 2023. Senate PRIB file photo / Voltaire F. Domingo
MANILA, Philippines — Senators believe there is a need to tighten the country’s borders for “undesirable aliens.”
Senator Sonny Angara shared this sentiment among his colleagues as the crimes allegedly linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators were brought up at the hearing of the Senate finance subcommittee on Wednesday.
Angara, chairman of the finance panel, led the hearing on the proposed budged of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and its attached agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“What I hope the PNP can do is to really trace how these people get into the country. Kasi napag-uusapan naming mga senador…with our military and our heads of security na we need to tighten our boarders a little bit given the heightened security concerns. Marami na daw aliens are here in our country,” the senator said.
He specifically asked DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. and PNP Director General Benjamin Acorda Jr., who were both present in the hearing, to look at the existing procedures.
It is possible that the problem, he said, may just be at the Bureau of Immigration or its lack of coordination with the security forces.
“Baka you can recommend some measures if remedial legislation is needed. Pero we really need to tighten up our borers for these undesirable aliens,” Angara said.
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros agreed with Angara.
Before this, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian asked Acorda’s opinion if Pogos should still stay in the country given the alarming rise of criminal activities allegedly linked to these companies.
“Based on the crimes that are being reported to us, yung crime statics is alarming and to my appreciation, it should be properly regulated and monitored,” the police chief said.
“And kung hindi naman talaga properly regulated and monitored, mas magandang wala na po, Sir,” he added.
Gatchalian thanked Acosta for his honesty, noting that the rise in alleged Pogo-related crimes is indeed alarming.
After conducting a series of hearings, the Senate committee on ways and means led by Gatchalian recommended the permanent ban of the offshore gaming firms in the country.
The recommendation, however, has yet to be tackled and voted on in the plenary.