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Ch embassy, PAOCC to collaborate in POGO crackdown
By Nidz Godino
“Main objective is to dismantle criminal syndicates hiding behind POGOs… Philippines will support all these actions,” Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) chief Gilbert Cruz said at Palace meeting Philippines and China have committed to strengthen fight against transnational crimes as Marcos administration sustains its campaign to dismantle illegal offshore gambling hubs in the country.
Commitment was made at meeting between Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian at Malacañang.
In statement Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), chaired by Bersamin, said China appreciates recent actions taken by Philippine law enforcement authorities to counter illegal offshore gambling and to rescue several Chinese nationals.
Cruz told said two countries agreed to help each other and strengthen “intelligence sharing and joint operations” involving Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs.
He said Huang vowed China will be “pro-active” in helping Philippines in its fight against illegal POGO operations.
Chinese embassy, PAOCC said, has been actively collaborating and maintaining open communication channels with their Philippine counterparts in operations against illegal POGOs.
“This mutual support demonstrates commitment and determination of both countries to curb transnational organized crime effectively, strengthened cooperation between two countries sends clear message to criminal syndicates operating across borders that their malicious activities will not be tolerated nor allowed to undermine security and stability of these nations,” PAOCC said.
Through their cooperation, two countries also pave way for exchange of expertise, intelligence sharing and collaborations, enabling authorities on both sides to effectively disrupt and dismantle criminal networks, this renewed commitment signifies proactive steps taken by both countries to protect their people and maintain law and order…with confident and determined approach, both countries are well-positioned to overcome any challenges and ensure justice prevails over criminal activities,,PAOCC said.
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Chinese embassy in Manila earlier urged Philippine government to ban POGOs.
“Ample evidence shows POGO breeds serious crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, human trafficking and murder… POGO is detrimental to both Philippine and Chinese interests and images, as well as China-Philippines relations,” embassy said last month.
“China Ambassador Huang formalized partnership between Philippines and China against transnational crimes in the Philippines…. China appreciated recent action of Philippine authorities to fight POGO…he thanked PAOCC for fighting POGOs’ spread in the country… result of meeting yielded very positive result…we had talk with Chinese embassy with executive secretary Bersamin and Philippine government and China agreed to unite its efforts to enhance law enforcement to combat transnational and organized crimes,” Cruz said.
He said Huang expressed strong concern over serious crimes being committed by illegal POGO hub operators in the country against foreign nationals such as Chinese, Taiwanese, Singaporeans and others during his meeting with PAOCC.
Although there was no direct reiteration of request for banning of POGO operations in the country from Huang, Cruz said Bersamin knows China is asking Philippine government to ban operation of POGOs in the country.
POGO hubs are “untouchable place” for torture, torture-for-ransom, human trafficking, kidnapping, scamming activities and other forms of criminalities of Chinese nationals, Cruz said.
“What they are doing is this…if you have debts to illegal POGO and you are fed and you are no longer paying, you will be tortured on video… video footages will be sent to your relatives, families, so that they can collect payment from them,” Cruz said.
Cruz added POGO workers are also tortured if they failed to reach their “quotas” of earnings for the day.
Charges have been filed against two Chinese nationals in connection with raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.
Prosecutor Darwin Cañete of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, PAOCC filed on July 2 charges of violation of Anti-Human Trafficking Act, robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, serious physical injuries and kidnapping and serious illegal detention against respondents.
Named respondents were Qi Ren Gou, 37, and Jiang Shi Guang, 41, who are currently detained at PAOCC temporary detention facility in Pasay City.
Complaints were filed with Department of Justice.
“They put workers here from abroad to work in these POGO hubs by force and intimidation through whatever leverage or form of pressure, forcing them to do that,” Cañete told reporters.
He, however, did not disclose names of complainants, but said they were Chinese nationals.
“We are mindful of the fact that accused or persons associated with them may seek to either reach out to them through death threats or to relatives in China since complainants are Chinese nationals,” he said.
According to Cañete, one of the victims was restrained in bed and was detained for several days. He was also “subjected to inhumane treatment.”
The 10-hectare Lucky South 99 Corp. compound was earlier raided and authorities found illegal drugs and various instruments of torture, including baseball bats and metal sticks.
Four foreigners , three men and a woman were among 160 foreigners rounded up in POGO hub said they were victims of torture.
Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) was prodding Smart Communications to explain presence of Smart SIM,subscriber identity module cards – apparently used in illegal activities despite being unregistered in raid on Porac POGO hub last month.
CICC executive director Alexander Ramos said wireless telco service provider has been told to submit official report on status of its compliance to Republic Act No. 11934 or SIM Card Registration Law.
Ramos said CICC was seriously looking into proliferation of unregistered SIM cards that are being used in text scams and in various forms of cybercrimes.
“We have been receiving litany of complaints from public that they continue to receive unwanted text messages either offering them loans, online gambling, cryptocurrency investments and job offers from unknown persons identified with Smart issued numbers, time for government to get tough on these telcos,” Ramos underscored.
Law enforcement authorities who clamped down on organized crime, including POGOs, recently seized thousands of SIM cards with various faked identities and unregistered SIM cards used for fraud.
For its part, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications was intensifying fight against scammers, clamping down on those that use fraudulently registered SIMs to commit crimes.
From January to May of this year, Smart has blacklisted more than 615,788 mobile numbers tied to illicit and fraudulent activities, including spamming and smishing scams. This number includes all fraudulently registered SIMs, purged through Smart’s strict validation process of all SIM registrations.
Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, or Guo Hua Ping, should cooperate with authorities and reveal crucial information about activities and key players of POGOs, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said.
“Guo can play crucial role in exposing truth and ensuring those involved are held accountable, I urge Alice Guo to come forward and cooperate with authorities and expose main players of illegal and criminal offshore gaming operations, to reduce her culpability, she can reveal everything she knows about operations of both Bamban POGO and Porac POGO, as the two are interconnected, ” said Gatchalian.
Guo, along with others, has been charged with non-bailable qualified human trafficking by PAOCC.
Office of the Solicitor General is looking at filing quo warranto case while Commission on Elections is mulling election offense case.
At the House of Representatives, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez vowed to thoroughly probe alleged anomalies within POGOs, where former and current government officials may have been involved.
“Government does not need this form of gambling as revenue source…they breed criminal activities like human trafficking, kidnapping, protection and extortion… social cost outweighs financial benefit,” Rodriguez emphasized.
Rodriguez also called on House committees on games and amusements and good government and public accountability to conduct joint inquiry and look into alleged lobbying and protection for POGOs by officials, appointed and elected.
He was reacting to revelation of PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco that former Cabinet member had lobbied for grant of franchises to illegal POGOs authorities recently raided in Bamban, Tarlac and in Porac, Pampanga.
“We are also ready to reveal roles of other controversial individuals behind these criminal POGO enterprises,” Tengco said. He also referred to role of former officials and conduits in granting licenses to POGO applicants with doubtful backgrounds.
Rodriguez said his proposed House inquiry would provide Tengco proper forum to make his revelations and support them with evidence.
“It is not enough PAGCOR officials name names… should provide proof leading to criminal prosecution,if they caved in to pressure, they are equally guilty and accountable, ” Rodriguez said.
Should POGOs be totally banned, Chinese businessmen could be invited to invest in other legitimate businesses in the country instead, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said.
“They can also invest in infrastructure. ..we have PPP ,Private Public Partnership…in fact, they were invited in Manila Bay reclamation projec, my point is we should not legalize something that is illegal in their country…like we are giving them haven for their illegal activities, ” Barbers said.
Barbers said Chinese businessmen should, instead, be encouraged to invest in other businesses that provides jobs and revenues without compromising Filipinos’ welfare.
If Chinese investors really want Philippines, he underscored, they could venture into legitimate investments “with help of local partner.”
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