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Human trafficking raps vs Guo– PAOCC
By Nidz Godino
"We have gotten some documents over past few weeks that we have not yet disclosed in previous two Senate hearings as well as executive sessions requested by Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Risa Hontiveros," Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesman Winston Casio PAOCC has gathered enough evidence to file human trafficking charges against Bamban Mayor Alice Guo over alleged illegal activities at raided Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in her Tarlac town.
According to Casio, recent documents obtained by PAOCC could implicate Guo, despite her name not appearing in any documents of Zun Yuan Technologies.
He stressed that upon their appreciation of the evidence that they were able to obtain, "for sure, by this week, we will be able to file human trafficking charges against Mayor Guo and her co-conspirators."
Casio also mentioned PAOCC is considering additional charges related to money laundering and other offenses.
He confirmed last June 15 that evidence includes documents directly linking Guo to POGO hub, raided in March following reports of human trafficking and other illegal activities.
Officials from PAOCC and other government agencies will meet to finalize charges, Casio stated are serious and non-bailable offenses.
Office of the Ombudsman has suspended Guo and two local government officials for six months while investigating their involvement in illegal activities at POGO hub.
Senator Rissa Hontiveros sounded alarm over reported link of former government official convicted and sentenced to 26-year jail term for his involvement in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam considered largest corruption scandal country has ever seen to POGO operations.
Hontiveros vowed to summon at next hearing convicted former Technology and Resource Center deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, whose name cropped up following raids on POGOs in Bamban town in Tarlac and Porac town in Pampanga.
"We will invite Mr. Cunanan to the next hearing to clarify his involvement….when there is POGO, there is connection to scam…as I said, all POGOs are bad… no differentiation between bad POGO or good POGO… seems POGOs are deliberately tapping former and present officials they can easily corrupt," the senator stressed.
Hontiveros, leads inquiry into participation of Guo in POGO scam operations, stressed influencing public officials is part of POGOs' strategy to continue their criminal activities in the country.
She revealed documents that show Cunanan acting as an "authorized representative" for Hongsheng in Bamban as well as Lucky South 99 in Porac. She added that Cunanan was sentenced to 26 years for PDAF scam.
"Cunanan figured in one of the largest corruption scandals our country has ever seen…maybe he also applied what he did in PDAF to POGOs… also shows Bamban and Porac POGO are really connected… seems scammers are together," Hontiveros said.
She added POGO operators might be taking advantage of country's weakness, corruption and paid off some officials. She urged fellow government servants to work together to address corruption and ban POGOs.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos also warned local government executives on their liability in proliferation of POGO and other illegal activities in their respective areas.
Liability of local government officials "does not only involve POGO but all illegal businesses," Abalos said when asked if elected officials will be held accountable over illegal POGO operations.
He noted that he led raid on illegal POGO in Angeles City, Pampanga two years ago. "I personally led raid in Angeles City, involving Lucky 99, that's why I was surprised that it was allowed to operate in Porac when I already raided this company."
Abalos said local government units could ask for police assistance to check on suspicious activities of business establishment in their jurisdiction, adding Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Chairman Alejandro Tengco earlier said only 43 POGOs have licenses to operate in the country.
"From 200 to 400 (licensed POGOs)… based on my conversation with chairman Tengco, only 43 are legal and he said every week, these are being regularly checked…so you could just imagine those who were not given permits, these are still in the Philippines and it is possible that they are involved in illegal activities, so all LGUs and PNP should be aware and immediately act on this," he added.
Senator Win Gatchalian took the same stance, saying governors, mayors and other local officials should be held accountable for failing to monitor illegal POGO activities in their respective areas.
He commended Pampanga provincial government for investigating POGO hubs in Porac town and Angeles City.
Pampanga Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda vowed to finish investigation into POGO in Porac, saying these operators had no respect for government.
"Lucky South 99 has no building permit, no electrical permit, nothing at all, zero.. has no environmental compliance certificate…they entered town, disregarding everything… no respect for government," Pineda said .
Casio revealed in an interview at least four POGO hubs, including the one in Porac, raided by PAOCC have licenses but were also seen to be doing illegal activities.
He said POGO hub in Porac lost its license in October 2023, but continued illegal operations, including torture, which led to raid on June 4.
Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz also revealed in an interview that PAOCC is investigating presence of former executive assistant to Harry Roque, spokesman for past Duterte administration.
Cruz said former assistant resided in POGO complex in Porac while studying in nearby Clark. He noted that this is unusual since POGO complex typically accommodates only employees and not students.
Of 43 remaining licensed POGOs in the country, largest is former Island Cove Resort in Cavite, Casio said as he revealed that they are also monitoring operations of this hub.
He confirmed PAOCC monitors both legal and illegal POGOs, although agency has not physically entered Island Cove.
Casio acknowledged challenge posed by continued operation of more than 300 illegal scam farms across the country, stating it is " very big problem that demands whole government and eventually whole-of-nation approach."
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