Sen. Risa Hontiveros —Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate investigation into the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) in Bamban, Tarlac province, took another twist after one of its registered incorporators denied knowing of its existence.
Testifying at a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Merlie Joy Castro said she did not take part in establishing Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., the Pogo company that leased a 7.9-hectare property previously owned by the now controversial Bamban Mayor Alice Guo. Besides her lack of understanding of Hongsheng’s operations, Castro said she also did not have the financial capacity to own such a business since she was only working as a call center agent.
READ: Over 800 Filipinos, foreign Pogo workers rescued in Tarlac raid
She said two of her supposed fellow incorporators, Thelma Laranan and Rowena Evangelista, were vegetable vendors, while another, Rita Yturralde, owned an “ihaw-ihaw,” or barbecue stall, in Concepcion town.
Castro said she knew about Laranan, Evangelista and Yturralde because she would frequently go to the public market in Concepcion when she still owned a computer shop in the area.
BIR summons
“I don’t even have any idea of what Pogo is,” Castro said when asked by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who has been leading the Senate investigation into the alleged criminal activities happening inside Pogos, about her role in Hongsheng.
“Actually, I only learned about this when I received a letter of invitation (to attend the Senate hearing) because I did not know the company. That’s why I did some research about it,” she said.
READ: Bamban Mayor Alice Guo charged with human trafficking
According to Castro, she was shocked upon learning from the news that her name appeared as one of the owners of the company behind the Pogo complex, which Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian estimated to have cost at least P6.1 billion to build. She said she also went to the local office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Bamban after she received a summons informing her that Hongsheng would be closed down due to various violations.
“I did not sign any document. Actually, I don’t know how to manage a corporation since I don’t have a capacity to start a corporation,” Castro said.
No ‘probity check’
If Castro were telling the truth, Hontiveros said, it would be unfortunate that ordinary citizens like her and the others were being dragged into the controversies involving Pogos.
“And they are now facing a nonbailable charge of human trafficking,” Hontiveros added, referring to the criminal complaint filed last week against Guo and 13 others.
Gatchalian criticized the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) for its failure to conduct a “probity check” and ensure the registered Pogo owners are not fictitious.
He said his office had conducted its own investigation to determine the personalities behind Hongsheng. Based on its findings, Castro, Laranan, Evangelista and Yturralde appeared to have no financial capability to invest in Pogos, he added.
“Because (Pagcor) did not conduct a probity check, people like (Castro) end up being charged while members of the syndicates behind Pogos still roam free. Many of them are still in the Philippines,” Gatchalian said.
“It’s in your guidelines. There’s a (requirement) for probity check in your guidelines. (But) you violated your own guidelines,” he told Pagcor officials present at Wednesday’s hearing.