Speaker Romualdez orders thorough probe on crimes, illegal activities associated with illegal POGOs
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Thank you, Noel Talakay.
00:03The House panel is all set for its inquiry into this hot issue of Chinese human traffickers, kidnappers, and other shady personalities using gaming operations as a front for their criminal activities.
00:16Our Melales Morris has more on the House's deep dive into the POGO issue.
00:21In response to various reports of crimes and illegal activities associated with illegitimate Philippine offshore gaming operators or illegal POGOs, House Speaker Martin Romualdez has ordered a comprehensive congressional investigation on the matter.
00:40He's clear these rogue POGO operators cannot be allowed to persist in their illicit actions, and he wants the masterminds and protectors behind these criminal activities unmasked and brought to light so they can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
00:54In separate statements, House Deputy Majority Leader Jeanette Karin and House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas expressed support for this.
01:02In fact, they believe all POGOs should be completely banned in the country.
01:07I do understand that some have permits, and we are bound by that.
01:12But if we're going to weigh the impact, the problem is that the legals became the front for the illegals, and they have penetrated our country so much.
01:27This is a blatant crime. What's happening in POGO is a blatant criminal activity, and it needs to be investigated.
01:37However, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Joey Salceda, a former stock analyst and investment banker, has a different perspective.
01:45He said the government should not introduce a POGO ban as it will severely affect other sectors too, and our economy in general.
01:54But Brosas said...
01:55Being one of the biggest revenues of the country, I think that's where he is coming from.
02:07Being actually a business. Maybe he thinks of it as a business.
02:14He knows the appropriation, he knows the revenues that are needed, but as I said, this will not be the solution.