Hontiveros to Pogo accomplices: You will be held accountable

Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros | PHOTO: Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Risa Hontiveros warned that individuals or groups leaking planned government raids on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) would be held liable to the law.

She issued the remark amid reports that the raid of a Pogo in Pampanga was leaked, prompting the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC)  to launch an investigation since many Pogo workers were able to escape even before authorities arrived in the Pogo complex to conduct the operation.

“Sinumang nakikipagsabwatan sa mga sindikatong Chinese ay mananagot. (Anyone who conspires with Chinese syndicates will be held accountable.) Our Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality will ensure that victim-survivors of abuse and exploitation will get the justice they deserve,” Hontiveros said in a statement Friday.

READ: Pampanga Pogo linked to scams, trafficking; 186 rescued in raid

As head of the committee, the senator has been investigating criminal activities linked to Pogos.

While Hontiveros commended the PAOCC for their operations against illegal Pogos, the senator also called it “unfortunate” how there seemed to be a “leak” in their operations last Wednesday, June 5.

“Napakarami pa naming nakukuhang reports kung saan naghahasik ng lagim ang mga Pogo. Tiwala ako na mare-raid at mahuhuli din ang mga nasa likod nito,” Hontiveros said.

(We continue to receive a lot of reports about Pogos wreaking havoc. I am confident that those behind this will be raided and arrested.)

READ: Nearly 100 of 402 canceled Pogos still operational, says PAOCC

“Dahil sa mga raid, nailalantad ang mga paulit-ulit at karumal-dumal na krimen na dala ng Pogo, tulad ng scamming, torture, at human trafficking na natagpuan dito sa Pampanga. Indeed, wherever there is Pogo, there is crime,” she added.

(Because of the raids, the repeated and heinous crimes brought by Pogo, such as scamming, torture, and human trafficking found here in Pampanga, are being exposed. Indeed, wherever there is Pogo, there is a crime.)

Last April, Hontiveros inspected a Pogo named Zun Yuan Technology, Inc. in Bamban, Tarlac, where Chinese fugitives were found in the facility.