Step up probe on Pogos in posh villages, Senator tells DILG

Sen. Joel Villanueva —Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Joel Villanueva on Monday urged the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to “walk the extra mile” and look into increasing reports of suspected illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) presence in exclusive subdivisions.

In a press conference, Villanueva said his office has received several reports and complaints regarding Pogos.

“The DILG should step up its game and if you wanna call it—walk the extra mile, sure walk the extra mile,” said Villanueva.

READ: Senate panel recommends Pogo ban

“Because there are so many out there even in villages for instance. I have gotten a lot of reports—a lot of complaints. Here in Merville, Parañaque, in Makati, etc. It’s hard to think that one of our neighbors is involved in (illegal) Pogo operations,” he added later on.

Most of the complaints raised to his office include the alleged entry and exit of luxury cars in their villages as well as some noisy residences.

Some are complaining that they have lost their peace of mind because “they have no idea what [their neighbors] are doing inside their houses.”

“And the fact that we have seen and heard so much news involving Pogo operations. So it’s hard. It’s hard to sleep at night without peace of mind. Unfortunately, it’s no longer new for us to hear about the mess, drugs, human trafficking, etc from the Pogo industry,” said Villanueva.

But for Villanueva, these all could be prevented, only if DILG becomes more “proactive” about addressing the matter.

He said he is willing to file a resolution on the matter if none has been filed yet, but he emphasized that the root of all these problems is the continuous existence of illegal Pogos.

Several senators have been urging President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to completely ban Pogos in the Philippines, pointing out that these only “made the country a fertile ground for various crimes.”