PAOCC links Pogos to various crimes

Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo)  (Noy Morcoso / INQUIRER.net file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — In 2023, the Philippine government logged 60 to 63 killings related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), Presidential Anti Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Undersecretary Gilberto Cruz bared on Tuesday.

Appearing at the Senate panel on women’s hearing on controversies hounding Pogos, Cruz said the crimes being linked to these firms have now diversified.

Cruz proceeded to name these as follows: kidnappings, prostitution, and the use of drugs.

“There were killings also. Marami pong killings tayo na nagaganap na ang nate-trace po namin na puro Pogo-related. There were shooting incidents – even in Bonifacio Global City and one, I think, in Manila and Pasay gumagamit na po sila ng baril,” said Cruz.

(There were killings also. There are many killings that we were able to trace and discover that are Pogo-related. These were shooting incidents – even in Bonifacio Global City and one, I think, in Manila and Pasay, they are now using guns.)’

Later in the hearing, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian asked how they could be certain that the killings were related to Pogos.

“Actually, Sir…the Philippine National Police provided us with reports on the killings that took place in Region 4, Region 3, and National Capital Region,” Cruz explained.

PAOCC Senior Technical Advisor Winston John Casio, meanwhile, said they verify this information once they get in touch with concerned embassies.

“And then we check on the background — let’s say there is a missing [person’s] report filed with the embassy, and then the family is looking for the son or relative. That’s the time na malalaman na lang namin na the guy who was on that [report] is a worker ng Pogo. Doon namin nalalaman ang background,” said Casio.

(And then we check on the background — let’s say there’s a missing person report filed with the embassy, and then the family is looking for the son or relative. That’s the time that we will know who the person in the missing person report is a Pogo worker.)

Asked how many Pogo-related killings they have monitored so far, Cruz replied: “Last year, it’s about 60 to 63.”

On possible hacking, surveillance

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros, who was presiding over the hearing as panel chairperson, sounded the alarm over the possibility that Pogos are now being used for surveillance activities and hacking of government websites.

“I was very disturbed to hear that there is persuasive information from the intelligence community stating na itong Bamban complex na ito ay ginagamit for surveillance activities, at ang ilang nabalitang high profile cases of hacking of our own government websites ay traceable sa complex na ito,” said Hontiveros.

(I was very disturbed to hear that there is persuasive information from the intelligence community stating that this Bamban complex is being used for surveillance activities and some high-profile cases of hacking of our own government traceable to this complex.)

Hontiveros was pertaining to Zun Yuan Technology Inc, — a licensed Pogo located in Baofu compound in Bamban, Tarlac. 

“Halo-halong kalamay na ang scams, national security threats, at human trafficking. And let us be clear: Pogos are scam centers. Pogos are a hotspot of fugitives. Pogos are a petri dish for crimes,” Hontiveros concluded.

These prompted the opposition lawmaker to reiterate her call, saying that if the administration really wants to fight crime and threats to national security, the President should start with banning Pogos.