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Senate to wrap up POGO, Guo probe
By Nidz Godino
“Our investigation on Guo Hua Ping is last chapter in our POGO investigation,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros referring to dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo’s Chinese name, the latter has denied before senators who uncovered her alleged fake Filipino citizenship.
Senate is set to wrap up its yearlong investigation on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO), Hontiveros said
According to Hontiveros, investigation on Guo’s involvement in illegal POGOs is the last chapter of inquiry.
Senators looked into Guo’s involvement in the raided POGO hub Zun Yuan Technology while she was Bamban mayor. Guo has since been dismissed from elective post by Office of the Ombudsman.
Guo also quo warranto case after senators blew lid on her alleged espionage activities and role in forcing trafficked persons to do scams in POGO hub.
Senate as early as last year looked into raided POGO hubs, served as cryptocurrency scam farms. Their investigation took turn when authorities stumbled upon POGO hub located just behind Bamban municipal hall.
Hontiveros said Senate would conclude hearing by digging deeper into claims made by self-confessed Chinese spy She Zhijiang in Al Jazeera documentary that he and Guo worked for Chinese Communist Party.
Senate is also inclined to invite accused POGO kingpin Lin Xunhan, alias Lyu Dong, allegedly knew Guo and is seen as pioneer in illegal POGOs. Lin was arrested by authorities in Biñan City, Laguna last Thursday.
Hontiveros lamented that Senate could not reach out to She Zhijiang after latter was put into maximum security prison following Al Jazeera documentary. She Zhijiang is detained in Thailand for alleged illegal casinos and is fighting extradition to China.
“We have learned from media sources that She, charged with illegally operating casino, is currently unreachable and has been moved to different prison facility, I am holding the Department of Foreign Affairs to its commitment during latest Senate hearing that it is urgently exhausting all diplomatic and legal channels to allow Philippine officials, with permission by Thai authorities, to communicate with She,” Hontiveros said.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said deadline for POGO foreign workers to voluntarily downgrade their visas has been extended until today.
Deadline was originally set for Oct. 15, but Remulla said Bureau of Immigration (BI) would accept applications for downgrading of visas until Oct. 18.
“We want as many people to voluntarily downgrade their visas because automatic cancellation has lot of implications,” Remulla told reporters.
Foreign workers were told to downgrade their 9G visas to tourist visas, allowing them to stay in the country until yearend.
According to BI, over 12,000 foreign POGO workers have applied for downgrade of working visas.
BI Commissioner Joel Viado already said there would be no more extensions for filling and that those who do not meet deadline will have to leave the country.
BI also plans to conduct implementation days for POGO companies where it can issue on-site exit clearances and Department of Labor and Employment personnel can accept Alien Employment Permits surrendered by POGO workers.
As for Filipinos who take over POGO operations, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said scenario is potential ticking time bomb and problem for the country as majority of them go scot-free.
Spokesman Winston John Casio admitted PAOCC is facing challenges in holding hundreds of Filipinos found to be involved in POGO operations criminally liable.
“Due to lack of material time to be able to develop credible case against most of these Filipinos, we’re able to let them go,” he said.
Casio raised scenario wherein 400 Filipinos are caught in one scam farm, noting that it will be challenge to prosecute all of them.
Despite directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.for them to cease operations, several POGOs appear to be continuing their activities as smaller units and shifting to underground operations.
Casio said unscrupulous Filipinos have also learned trade of scamming people from Chinese nationals who are running POGOs.
Philippine National Police (PNP) said former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who is questioned for involvement in POGO operations, could be hiding in Mindanao.
Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, PNP public information officer, said Criminal Investigation and Detection Group received information that Roque was spotted twice in Mindanao.
Fajardo did not specify areas in Mindanao where Roque was spotted so as not to jeopardize manhunt operations for former government official.
“Your guess is as good as mine with respect to his intention…why should he go to that place?” Fajardo said, referring to Mindanao.
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