Ilang biktima ng torture sa ilegal na POGO, humarap sa pagdinig ng Kamara; DOJ, pabor sa tuluyang pag-ban sa POGO
Ilang biktima ng torture sa ilegal na POGO, humarap sa pagdinig ng Kamara; DOJ, pabor sa tuluyang pag-ban sa POGO
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00:00The sound of the camera was heard from illegal firecrackers and some workers who experienced torture.
00:11Officials from PAOC, PACOR, and other agencies were dispatched to address this problem.
00:20Mela Lasmoras is in Central for Balita Live.
00:25Aljos, at this point, the joint hearing is still going on here in the camera about the issues related to the firecrackers.
00:35Aside from the officials of the government, some workers who experienced torture in their illegal firecrackers also appeared here.
00:45Around 10 a.m. this morning, the joint hearing of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety and the Committee on Games and Amusements
00:54was held regarding the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs.
00:58The main issue here is the crimes and illegal activities committed by the illegal POGOs.
01:05Five foreign rescue workers were also present at the hearing that shared the actual torture and other hardships that they experienced from the scam farms,
01:15particularly from Bambantarlak and Purat Pampanga.
01:19Another Filipino victim was also present and was rescued from Myanmar.
01:23Because of these crimes, PAOC and DOJ expressed their opposition to the operation of illegal POGOs.
01:31The DOJ also said that it is a favor to other countries.
01:37We cannot deny that criminal activities occur in POGOs.
01:42We likewise cannot deny that the licenses of POGOs or IGLs have been used to create a veneer of legality for their illegal activity.
01:51We have to admit that our perspective is on the negative side, being on the justice and law enforcement sector.
01:59For the benefits, we will have to defer to PAGCOR and other relevant government agencies,
02:04and will submit to the discretion of Congress, who will weigh the benefits vis-Ã -vis the dangers and the costs.
02:11But whatever the decision of the body, whether it is an outright ban or a maintenance of the status quo,
02:18the DOJ commits to continue to take aggressive action against POGOs engaged in criminal activity
02:24in coordination with our partners in law enforcement.
02:28Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin gave us a clear and urgent directive
02:33to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking in our country and ensure the rescue of all its victims.
02:46Consequently, after extensive intelligence work and coordination with our partners from law enforcement agencies
02:54like the DOJ-IACAT, the Philippine National Police,
02:57our campaign against illegal trafficking has directly led us to the conduct of raids on numerous illegal POGOs.
03:04And these operations have uncovered the extent of criminal activities associated with POGOs.
03:11At this point in time, the camera footage continues,
03:16as well as the issues related to illegal POGOs.
03:20In addition to the officials of the government,
03:22some rescued workers who suffered torture from the scam farm also appeared here.
03:30Around 10 a.m. this morning,
03:33the Joint Hearing of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety and the Committee on Games and Amusements
03:39about the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs.
03:43The main topics discussed here are the crimes and illegal activities committed by illegal POGOs.
03:49Some foreign rescued workers also appeared in the hearing,
03:53who shared the actual torture and other hardships they experienced from the scam farm,
04:00particularly from Bambantarlak and Porak, Pampanga.
04:04Another Philippine victim was rescued from Myanmar.
04:09Because of these crimes, the DOJ and the PAOK
04:12announced their opposition to the operation of illegal POGOs in the country.
04:17And the DOJ said that it is completely banned in the country
04:21because of the illegal activities they witnessed.
04:27The PAGOR, on the other hand, primarily laid the benefits to the economy of illegal POGOs in the country.
04:33Under the current administration,
04:36the DOJ also prohibited the use of illegal POGOs.
04:39That's why since 298, the number of licensed POGOs in the country is only 45.
04:44The DOJ also has plans to include the crimes committed by POGOs.
04:50Let's listen to the part of the statement of an official from the PAGOR.
04:56If you ask us what our plans are for offshore gaming,
05:01this is just a small part of our plans.
05:07We want to employ 24x7 monitoring in all operating sites.
05:15And we are planning to remove the framework for the hubs.
05:21For now, we only have one hub.
05:26We would like to impose higher fines and penalties to airing licensees and service providers.
05:34We also want to strengthen our cooperation with law enforcement agencies
05:43because they have a big role to play in preventing and solving illegal activities of non-licensed POGOs.
05:59Aljo, compared to what the Senate heard,
06:02not only here in POGO, but also in the POGO Crime Hearing here in the Chamber,
06:06they are really focused on the actual crimes and illegal activities committed by POGOs.
06:12Aljo, if we can remember, the Senate is mainly discussing the illegal activities
06:19connected to suspended Bamban Mayor Alex Guo.
06:24Here in the Chamber, they are discussing the illegal activities and the economic benefits of POGOs.
06:33So, in this hearing, the judges are weighing what should be done in the long run,
06:38if it is illegal or not, and what should be done to restrict the implementation of laws
06:44to prevent these illegal activities.
06:47Aljo, we expect that the hearing will last until later because there are a lot of people on the list
06:53to interpellate the judges.
06:56And they want to clarify a lot of issues in POGO.
07:01Aljo?
07:02Mela, because the crime is escalating, because of the illegal POGO operation,
07:10were the roles of local government units asked about their monitoring of illegal POGOs?
07:21It's impossible that they don't know.
07:23It's impossible that the Mayor or the Captain don't know.
07:27What is the role of the local authorities?
07:33Aljo, in the beginning of the hearing, the Public Order and Safety Chair, Dan Fernandez,
07:40gave the importance of the role of local government units in monitoring and stopping illegal activities
07:47that POGOs are involved in.
07:49That's why one of the things they invited for the hearing today
07:54are the leaders of League of Municipalities and League of Cities in the country.
07:59But earlier, Aljo sent an excuse letter that was submitted from his body,
08:05from the bodies of the mayors that they called.
08:08So what the judges said in the next hearing,
08:12it's impossible that they don't have a body because it's important for the LGUs to hear about this
08:19and for them to hear at the same time,
08:21what the judges should do to stop the crime and illegal activities
08:28that POGOs are involved in.
08:31Aljo?
08:32Thank you very much, Bella Lesmores.