PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said they have yet to get any report that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) are being used for money laundering.
“As of this time, we in the PNP wala pa kaming nakukuhang official report that these POGOs are involved in money laundering. On our part ang mga nakukuha nating incidents or cases ay ‘yung mga kidnapping, ‘yung mga hindi nakakabayad or ‘yung mga gustong umalis na hindi nila pinapaalis, ‘yung mga pag contain sa mga Chinese nationals na nandun lang sa isang lugar and their passports are being withheld by their employer,” Albayalde said in a press conference.
“Yun lang naman ang nakukuha natin so far na information but with regards to money laundering or with the use of laundering drug money wala pa kaming nakukuhang report on that,” he added.
Albayalde said they have no authority to conduct such an investigation unless they have permission from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
For his part, Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said they will remain vigilant of POGO operations in the country. The Department of the Interior and Local Government oversees the PNP.
“Well ang binabatayan natin ‘yung activity ng POGO to make sure na they are complying (with( legal parameters kasi POGO is one of revenue generating mechanism of government but there is also a possibility that it will be used (for) money laundering,” he said.
“In fact that’s the reason why the Chinese government is trying to persuade us to ban POGO kasi lumalabas, ang sa atin naman that’s legal wala tayong karapatan but let us see kung kailangan talaga ipasara yan depende siguro sa investigation at saka kung mayroong complainants let us be vigilant,” he added.
Earlier, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers, who chairs the House committee on dangerous drugs, warned that POGOs may be used to launder drug money.
He noted that it is already disturbing that many Chinese nationals in the country are getting involved in gambling-related crimes.
As of June 2019, there were 56 licensed POGOs in the country that employ an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 Chinese nationals while there were at least 30 others which were operating illegally. (SunStar Philippines)