Lower house committees conduct hearing on crimes, illegal activities in POGOs
Lower house committees conduct hearing on crimes, illegal activities in POGOs
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00:00Those who are in favor of an all-out ban on Pogos always argue that the ill effects of these ventures outweigh the benefits.
00:07Perhaps if those who witnessed the horrific ordeal, some of the victims of these establishments went through and
00:14presented before the lower house hearing, they would think twice about supporting such endeavors.
00:19Mela Lesmoras tells us more.
00:21This worker has been crying and screaming in pain, but the beating does not let up or relent.
00:34In a separate video, a woman is being slapped and hit multiple times.
00:40While in this footage, the victim is blindfolded while being mistreated.
00:45All these are actual videos of the torture experienced by victims of this illegal Pogos in the country.
00:52They were presented by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission or PAOC at the joint hearing of the House Committee on Public
00:59Order and Safety and the Committee on Games and Amusements to testify and comment on the severity of the crimes and illegal activities
01:07perpetrated by Pogos. During the inquiry, some rescued workers also appeared and recounted their ordeals.
01:13When I arrived, okay, in Baman Talak, the place there, he told me to wait in the
01:20Domestery there. He said he would go to do something and then come back later.
01:25And then I just wait, wait until around 30 minutes after the office,
01:30like the in-charge, maybe the admin or anything,
01:33he's coming to call in me and then go to the supervisor place and then he would tell me I need to work in there
01:39and then I think I already got sell.
01:42Dilan, as he was telling his story, he was sold.
01:45He was sold in Sunyuan in Bawangpu.
01:48The one who sold him was his partner.
01:51There were times when our witnesses fainted so he was the one who was beaten.
01:56He was given to us by the Malaysian Embassy because he was able to text the company
02:02and he showed the beatings on his face.
02:05Several lawmakers reiterated Pogo crimes in the country must end quickly and must end now.
02:11The PAOK and DOJ both agree.
02:14We cannot deny that criminal activities occur in Pogos.
02:18We likewise cannot deny that the licenses of Pogos or IGLs
02:23have been used to create a veneer of legality for their illegal activity.
02:28We have to admit that our perspective is on the negative side,
02:31being on the justice and law enforcement sector.
02:34Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin gave us a clear and urgent directive
02:39to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking in our country
02:44and ensure the rescue of all its victims.
02:48Consequently, after extensive intelligence work and coordination with our partners
02:54from law enforcement agencies like the DOJ-IACAT, the Philippine National Police,
02:59our campaign against illegal trafficking has directly led us to the conduct of raids
03:04on numerous illegal Pogos.
03:06According to PACOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tenco,
03:09due to their intensified measures, only 45 legal Pogos remain in the country
03:14and three of them are suspended.
03:16PACOR emphasized the economic benefits of legal Pogos but insists
03:20they are ready to comply with any directives from the administration on the matter.
03:25If you ask us what our plans are for offshore gaming,
03:30this is just a small part of our plans.
03:36We want to employ 24-7 monitoring on all operating sites
03:44and we are planning to remove the framework for the hubs.
03:50For now, we only have one hub
03:54and we would like to impose higher fines and penalties
03:59to airing licenses and service providers.
04:03In the coming weeks, the Joint Committee will also invite other personalities
04:07including former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
04:11Melales Moras from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.