Senators to Pagcor: Name Pogo lobbyist

Francis Escudero —Senate SMU                                                              Joel Villanueva —Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Sunday challenged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to name the former “high-ranking” Cabinet official who had been lobbying for granting licenses to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in the country.

“Pagcor should name the ‘official.’ If not, [the] committee chaired and headed by Senators [Risa] Hontiveros and [Sherwin] Gatchalian should unmask this official so that not all ‘former high-ranking Cabinet officials’ will be looked upon with suspicion, and find out if he/she violated any laws,” Senate President Francis Escudero said in a message to reporters.

“To be fair to all former Cabinet members, Pagcor should reveal the identity of this person, also so [that] he or she can defend self,” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said in his message.

READ: Pagcor: Ex-Cabinet official lobbied for raided Pogos

Pagcor chair and CEO Alejandro Tengco said in a statement on Saturday that he would disclose the identity of the former Cabinet official as well as the circumstances that led to the proliferation of criminal offshore gaming operations in the “proper forum.”

“We are also ready to reveal the roles of other controversial individuals behind these criminal Pogo enterprises,” Tengco said.

‘Right forum’

Sen. Joel Villanueva also dared Pagcor to name names, adding that Tengco’s disclosure should be enough proof to ban Pogos in the country permanently.

“They have infiltrated not only the business and gaming industries but also our government, allegedly with local and even high-ranking officials serving as their protectors. Our duty as public servants is not to protect these illegal activities, but to put our people’s welfare as our main priority,” he said.

“We are not in show business so there is no need to put up a blind item. The people need to know the truth and we need to make them accountable for pushing the country into a pit of chaos,” stressed Villanueva.

Gatchalian, who is pushing for a total ban on Pogos, said earlier that he would ask Pagcor to submit an official report to the Senate on the alleged role of the former Cabinet official.

Hontiveros said on Friday that she would invite Tengco to attend the next hearing of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, which she heads.

No schedule of hearing was set this week, but Hontiveros said they would set it “soonest.”

“I hope the Pagcor chief deems it the right forum to reveal what he knows,” Hontiveros said, noting that Tengco had only sent his subordinates to participate in the Senate inquiry.

“Whoever that ex-Cabinet official turns out to be, the fact remains: Pogos are being used as a legal cover for scam hubs. The Senate investigation has shown that despite having legal licenses issued by Pagcor, criminal activities still persist in Pogos,” she added.

Transnational crimes

Hontiveros also said that Pagcor should stop arguing that “illegal Pogos” are different from those operating with valid government-issued permits, Hontiveros said.

“The entire industry has been the cause of numerous crimes that endanger women, children and the most vulnerable in our society,” she said.

Other senators have also been pushing for a total ban on Pogos.

Hontiveros and Gatchalian had earlier urged the National Security Council to take up the matter of Pogo operations with President Marcos since these enterprises have become a national security threat.

They said authorities have already secured evidence linking the online gambling industry to transnational crimes such as money laundering and human trafficking.