Chinese crime syndicates are reportedly collaborating with local criminals, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian stated on Thursday, exposing the growing power of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the Philippines, during a Senate executive session.

The Senate executive session on Wednesday, which included security and law enforcement agencies, addressed confidential material about illegal POGOs and their suspected connection to suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.

POGO’s roots gone too entrenched

Strong evidence supporting Mayor Alice Guo’s alleged ties to the Chinese criminal organization that managed the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac, was revealed during the Senate’s executive session on Wednesday, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

“Ito ang nakakatakot, pati ‘yung local crime syndicates natin ay nakikipagtrabaho na sila sa mga local crime syndicates, so meron sila mga foreign ito karamihan ito mga Chinese mga sindikato ito at meron na silang koneksyon ngayon sa mga lokal na sindikato,” Gatchalian said.

“Kinabahan ako, kinilabutan ako, kasi ibig sabihin lumalalim na ang galamay ng POGO,” he told TeleRadyo Serbisyo. “Kampante ang ating law enforcement agencies… na naging ‘enabler’ ng POGO si Guo at pagpasok nitong POGO dito sa ating bansa. Merong ebidensiya ang mga enforcement agencies pagdating diyan.”

Furthermore, during the “Kapihan sa Senado” Forum, the solon also expressed fear on Bamban Mayor’s connection to organized crime.

“Without going into the details, pero lumalabas na merong kongkretong ebidensya na may link siya sa mga criminal syndicates na nag organize nitong POGO sa Bamban. So, meron siyang link dito sa mga organized crime,” Gatchalian said. “In fact, meron ding mga information na siya mismo gumagalaw para magkaroon ng connection sa iba’t-ibang ahensya…. Siya mismo ay may active participation na mabuo ‘yung kanyang connection sa iba’t-ibang ahensya,” he added.

Gatchalian believes that Guo’s involvement in the establishment of the POGO hub in Bamban is already demonstrated by her role in processing the Letter of No Objection, her name on the applications of Hongsheng Technology Inc. and Baofu Land Development Inc., as well as her application for an internet connection within the complex.

“Kaya lahat ng dokumento itinuturo na meron siyang active participation para mabuo itong POGO…So hindi natin matatanggal yung ebidensyang yun,” Gatchalian stressed. “Si Mayor Alice Guo is the one who opened the doors for these criminal syndicates to come in. Naging enabler siya. Sa laki ng Pilipinas, bakit sa Bamban and the only common link between the criminal syndicates at Bamban is Alice Guo. Nasa gitna siya e. Siya ‘yung naging tulay between this criminal syndicates and Bamban,” the Solon noted.

POGO’s roots already influenced politicians and gov’t agencies, warns against lifting of Guo’s preventive suspension

In the same forum, the solon find how POGOs also influenced government officials and agencies alike, making illegal crime syndicates easy to enter.

“Malalim. Ibig sabihin ang kanilang impluwensya ay umaabot na sa mga politiko, umaabot na sa mga enforcement agencies tulad ng kapulisan, Bureau of Immigration, at pangatlo meron silang binanggit doon na pati ‘yung mga local criminal syndicates ay nakakasama na nila,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian also said that local politicians are “part of the web” that operated the POGO hub in Bamban. However, it was not elaborated their participation in the said POGO operations. “Doon sa mga pinakitang pangalan marami…May mga pangalan kasi dun at merong web na pinakita at may mga politicians…enforcers, criminal syndicates, even businessmen,” he said.

The senator forewarned that lifting Guo’s preventive suspension might have an impact on the law enforcement agencies’ continuing investigation.

“Delikado iyan. Delikado na ma-lift iyong preventive suspension dahil gusto natin pati iyong mga nagtatabaho sa municipal hall ng Bamban magsalita. Siyempre kung mayor ka, matatakot iyong mga nagta-trabaho doon na magsalita,” Gatchalian explained. “Kapag nandiyan siya, obviously, pwede niyang impluwensyahan iyan kaya importante na patuloy ang kanilang preventive suspension habang nag-iimbestiga ang mga enforcement agencies, ang Senate, kasama na ang ibang ahensya,” he added.

Gatchalian calls for POGO ban

Gatchalian said they asked national security agencies to suggest to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that POGOs be banned in the Philippines as soon as feasible.

Regarding POGOs, Gatchalian stated that law enforcement organizations had decided to cease activities. “Pag lumalim nang lumalim ang ugat nito napakahirap nang bunutin sa ating bansa,” the solon expressed.

He stated a delegate from the National Security Council also agreed to suspend POGO operations in the country.

The solon stated that the benefits of continuing POGO activities, which he claims remit P8 billion annually to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), exceeded the social costs.

“Panawagan ko sa Pangulo, i-ban na itong POGO, ‘wag tingnan ang isang side lang, ‘yung kita, kundi ‘yung kabuuan na nakakasira sa ating lipunan,” Gatchalian said.

📷 Senate of the Philippines FB, Sen. Risa Hontiveros FB