Almost 100 canceled POGOs still operating — PAOCC spox By JOVILAND RITA, GMA Integrated News

Nearly 100 of the 402 canceled Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs are still operating, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said on Thursday. At the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon forum, PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said the agency has been monitoring the 402 canceled POGO hubs. “Sa listahan na binigay ni [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation] noong nakaraang taon, meron silang 402 na di umano'y mga kanseladong mga POGOs,”Casio said. (In the list given by [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation] last year, they have 402 allegedly canceled POGOs.) “Sa aming pagmamanman doon sa 402 na iyon, marami pa ho halos 100 ang mga operational sa mga iyon,” he added. (In our surveillance of those 402, there are many more, almost 100 of them are operational.) According to Casio, the PAOCC so far has shut down only four POGO hubs with the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation. Casio noted that the PAOCC would take five weeks for case buildup and two months for operation against a single POGO hub. “To be honest, at the rate we are going, hindi ho yata natin kayang tapusin ang problemang ito hangga’t hindi magkakaroon ng polisiya na mas malalim at mas malakas laban dito sa mga scam farms ng mga ito. (To be honest, at the rate we are going, I don't think we can end this problem until there is a deeper and stronger policy against these scam farms.) Asked if the PAOCC would recommend to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. a total ban on POGOs, Casio said it is up to the PAOCC chair, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. Casio said Bersamin is always in consultation with other Cabinet secretaries and other law enforcement agencies. In May, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros called on the Executive Department and the Senate leadership to act quickly on the recommendation to ban POGOs in the country. She noted that crimes related to the industry have been going on for about four years already. "Nanawagan ako ulit kay Presidente sa hearing kahapon, kung gusto talaga nilang sugpuin ang krimen, kung gusto talaga nilang i-nip in the bud 'yung banta, sa pambansang seguridad nitong mga POGO na 'to na kuta ng mga krimen, kuta ng mga operators ng suspected na surveillance at tsaka hacking, first big step nila, i-ban na ang POGO, palabasin na ang POGO," she said. (I reiterated my call to the President during yesterday's hearing. If they really want to suppress crimes and nip in the bud the threats to national security posed by POGOs, the first big step is to ban POGOs and expulse their operations from the country.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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