POGO presence near military sites ups ante on security issue —expert

Maritime law expert Professor Jay Batongbacal on Monday said he shared Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's concern over the presence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) near Philippine military facilities as these could pose a national security risk amid the passage of Chinese warships in Philippine waters.

"Parang naa-up 'yung ante nga kasi parang dumadaan sa ating secured facilities, nagtatayo... Masyado yatang lumalapit. Para tayong nagiging butas-butas na. Wala tayong maproteksyunan kung ganyan," Batongbacal said on GMA News TV program Balitanghali.

"So dapat lang talagang i-raise 'yung concern. Sa ngayon, maaaring hindi pa sila sure, pero nakikita nila 'yung potential threat in the future."

Batongbacal added that the subtle entry of "electronic intelligence" into the country could possibly be facilitated through POGO.

"Usually diba mga IT facilities 'yan. May mga equipment 'yan na pwedeng gamitin for espionage and data collection. Electronic intelligence ang tawag dun," the analyst explained. "So pwedeng baka hindi napapansin na may mga pumapasok na palang equipment na hindi pang-POGO lang, pang-espiya na."

Permanent friends, permanent interests

Moreover, Batongbacal said that the Philippines should not let its guard down against the possibility of Chinese espionage on the basis of a supposed friendship with the Asian powerhouse.

"Kung titingnan natin sa panig ng China, they also believe in the saying that there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests'," he said.

Last week, Lorenzana said that POGOs near military camps in the country could be used as breeding grounds for espionage. 

In response, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua sent Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo a subtly meaningful text message in which Zhao asked, "What if we also think that your [Filipino] overseas workers are also spying on us. What can you say about that?"

Lorenzana scoffed at the suggestion and described it as the "most preposterous statement" that he has heard in a long while. 

"Filipinos are widely dispersed in China, working in homes and schools that are far away from military camps," Lorenzana said. "The POGO Centers here, meanwhile, are very near military camps and naval bases." — Dona Magsino/DVM, GMA News