17 Octubre, 2024 Huwebes
supports 35th National Statistics Month October, Advancing data and statistics through digital transformation,a road to empowered nation
supports World Food Day October 16, 2024
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
No to SOGIE bill
PM for any hospital discharge problem
Happy Birthday Loida Tajan-Ocampo, more birthdays to come
‘POGOs go micro, moving underground’
By J.Lo
“They disintegrated into several micro-units, and now they have multiplied,” Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio said despite directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.to wipe out Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) several appear to be continuing their activities as “micro-units” operating underground.
Casio said they have monitored a lot of “legal” POGOs that have shifted to underground operations.
“We’re practically more than a year now since we started our operations against POGOs… and we’re nowhere near 50 percent of our target,” he stressed.
Marcos earlier ordered closure of all POGOs, including rebranded internet gaming licensees or IGLs, by the end of the year.
According to Casio, all work visas or employment permits issued to foreigners working in POGOs or IGLs expired last Tuesday.
“There should be no one working in IGL as of today…they should be winding down, they should be using the 59 days given to them by Bureau of Immigration to sell whatever properties they have, to buy their tickets to leave the country basically to settle their affairs,” he said. .
But based on their monitoring, Casio said many POGOs are still operating.
“This goes to show how big the problem is,” he added, citing recent operations conducted by Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“We are currently doing case buildup..in the next few days, we will continue with our operations… all POGOs should be closed down,” said Casio.
Several foreign financiers are also still in the Philippines, said Casio, citing recent arrest of POGO kingpin Lin Xunhan, alias Lyu Dong, who was arrested in Biñan City, Laguna last week.
“We are looking at four who are still here in the Philippines,” said Casio.
Authorities have permanently closed down IGL operation in Biñan City on Tuesday night as part of government’s continued crackdown on POGOs.
At around 10 in the evening, authorities locked down New Wave Internet Gaming Licensee and its mother company, New Wave Infotech Limited Philippines Inc., that occupies six floors of Southwoods Tower Number 2 in Barangay San Francisco, Biñan.
Operation was led by personnel from Business Permit and Licensing Office of Biñan City, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and PAOCC.
But upon inspection, authorities discovered computers inside New Wave’s office were already disassembled and hard drives were missing, potentially hindering efforts to uncover evidence of illegal activities.
Casio identified POGO firm as being linked to Lin Xunhan, who was arrested by authorities and tagged as “godfather” of POGOs in the country.
According to Casio, New Wave Technologies originated from other POGO firms previously raided by authorities.
“Lin Xunhan is the ‘big boss’ of New Wave, has ties to other POGOs we’ve already shut down,” Casio said.
Seventeen Chinese nationals were arrested during NBI raid at suspected POGO hub in Tagaytay City, Cavite on Tuesday.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago declined to disclose details about operation, occurred at resort in Barangay Francisco.
Raid was based on tip that Chinese national was being tortured in POGO hub. Victim was rescued in the operation.
Suspects , now under custody of NBI cybercrime division, allegedly rented portion of resort in December last year.
Meanwhile, police seized computers and other gadgets at suspected POGO firm in Moalboal, Cebu on Oct. 9 where 38 Chinese nationals were arrested.
Operatives of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group implemented search warrant at the hub in Barangay Saavedra at around 5:24 in the morning, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco said in statement.
Police raiding team confiscated 30 computers, 212 cell phones, four laptops, routers, modems, charges, cords, cable wires, landline phones and keyboards. Six vehicles were seized and are undergoing verification.
Local officials of Porac, Pampanga, including Mayor Jaime Capil, are facing graft complaint before Department of Justice in connection with POGO firm Lucky South 99 earlier raided in the municipality allegedly involved in human trafficking, cybercrime and other illegal activities.
PAOCC and PNP-CIDG filed complaint on Oct. 16 against Capil, Vice Mayor Francis Laurence Tamayo, councilors Rohner Buan, Rafael Canlapan, Adrian Carreon, Regin Clarete, Essel Joy David, Hilario Dimalanta, Michelle Santos, Hilario Dimalanta, Essel Joy David and John Nuevy Venzon as well as business permit and licensing officer Emerald Vital for violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
According to San Fernando, Pampanga City Prosecutor Leonardo Santos, respondents violated Section 3(j) of RA 3019 for granting business permit to Lucky South 99 from 2021 to 2023 despite defects on its documents and application forms.
Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian expressed alarm at proliferation of smaller POGO hubs.
Two senators are leading the year-long investigation into trafficking of persons forced to do scams in compounds fronting as POGOs, most prominent is Bamban, Tarlac hub linked to dismissed mayor and accused Chinese spy Alice Guo.
Meanwhile, as former presidential spokesman Harry Roque continues to evade arrest, PNP is not discounting possibility that some personalities are coddling him, as there is no record from Bureau of Immigration that he has left the country.
PNP public information officer Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo has warned Roque’s coddlers to stop protecting the former spokesman of Duterte administration or face criminal cases.
In another development, Interagency Council Against Trafficking held its second regional meeting in Southeast Asia, emphasizing urgent need for collaborative efforts to combat human trafficking across borders.
ISKUP! 