BOTH Houses of Congress should launch an inquiry into the validity of Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) facilities in the country. Senators and congressmen should take into account whether these foreign gambling outlets’ financial benefits far outweigh the perceived threat they pose to the nation’s security.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has collected a whopping R11.2 billion in revenue from POGOs since 2017. That’s great!
But we ought to look at POGOs not only as a revenue source. They may also promote crime.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded many cases of casino-related kidnappings involving Chinese.
Figures from the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) showed that 52 kidnapping cases related to gambling debt were documented since 2017. Some 119 Chinese were arrested for supposed involvement in kidnap-for-ransom activities, victimizing 96 of their fellow citizens.
A police official said that these casino debt-related kidnappings continue precisely because of the surge of Chinese in the country.
Also, casinos, whether online or otherwise, are used to launder dirty money, which includes drug money. It is common knowledge that the most significant source of shabu is China. On several occasions, the media reports the involvement of Chinese nationals in drug trafficking and the operation of meth laboratories.
So how sure are we that the surge of Chinese workers in POGOs does not threaten national security?
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo aligns his belief with that of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon that the entry of undocumented foreign workers should be considered threats to national security. The military has likewise raised concern over intentions to build POGO hubs on three islands in the Philippines.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier warned that these hubs might be used for surveillance activity since they “are very near military camps and naval bases”.
He claimed that Chinese companies are mandated by Beijing to assist in intelligence collection, and “it is not far-fetched that individuals likewise could be compelled to do so.”
Some lawmakers also worry about the presence of soldier-type Chinese workers in a POGO firm in Las Piñas City.
One lawmaker, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list Representative Jericho Nograles, believes the government could better regulate POGOs if these are located in special economic zones.
There are 56 licensed POGO companies in the country as of June 9 that employ about 100,000 to 250,000 Chinese workers. Around 30 illegal POGO firms are in operation.
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