Senators to Pagcor head: Name illegal POGO fixer

Chiz to demand disclosure of identity in hearing

A group of senators led by Senate President Francis Escudero on Sunday urged Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairperson Alejandro Tengco to identify the former Cabinet official allegedly involved in illicit Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs).

Joining Escudero in this call are Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, and Senators Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Risa Hontiveros. They argue that revealing this person’s identity is crucial to avoid casting a shadow of suspicion over all past high-ranking government officials.

Escudero demanded the information. Otherwise, he said the Senate committees led by Hontiveros and Gatchalian would be tasked to ferret out the truth to prevent unhelpful speculations and to determine if any laws were violated.

Pimentel echoed this sentiment, to be fair to all former Cabinet members, stressing that the official deserves a chance to defend oneself. Villanueva criticized any attempt at secrecy or allusions, noting that showbiz-like “blind items” have no place in this type of issue.

Gatchalian said they would press Tengco to reveal who he was referring to in the next Senate hearing. The PAGCOR official might point to someone who worked for former President Rodrigo Duterte, since POGOs commenced during his administration.

“That was how I read it from his (Tengco’s) press release. I’m not sure who he is, and how high was his position,” noted Gatchalian, vowing to seek clarity from the PAGCOR chief. “It is important to hold them accountable.”

Earlier, Tengco suggested that a senior government figure had facilitated gaming licenses for some of the illegal POGOs that were recently raided.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family, and Gender Equality, Hontiveros is preparing for the next hearing on illegal POGOs. She expects Tengco to attend personally, rather than sending a representative.

“Whoever that ex-Cabinet official turns out to be, the fact remains—POGOs are being used as a legal cover for scam hubs,” Hontiveros said.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Sunday some of its personnel have received death threats amid its investigation into the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs.

“Yes, we have been receiving some threats. But maybe these are just merely to scare us off. We have to be careful, so to speak, it’s difficult],” PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said in an inteview with Super Radyo DZBB

Due to this, Casio said that they are always on the lookout for anything that may occur.

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Senators demand PAGCOR chief to name ex-Cabinet member tied to illegal POGOs”

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