PNP chief says POGOs may be ‘detrimental to national security’

There is a need to guard Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) near security facilities as they could be detrimental to national security when they become excessive, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde said Tuesday.

“Kailangan din nating bantayan. In fact, kahit wala namang ginagawa, kung sobra-sobra naman ‘yan, that could also be detrimental to our national security—that’s possible,” Albayalde said during a press briefing at Camp Crame.

The intelligence community must determine the real purpose behind POGO operations, the PNP chief noted. “Kung ‘yan talaga ay negosyo or ‘yan ay anything else na reason for the construction of POGO facility doon,” Albayalde said.

Last week, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said POGO workers, most of which are Chinese nationals, may shift operations from business to spying.

The Defense chief’s comments prompted Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua to say that Filipino workers in China could also be accused of spying.

But Lorenzana noting that it was the “most preposterous statement” he had ever heard. —VDS, GMA News