Senate panel subpoenas 3 execs of raided Pasay POGO firm

A Senate committee on Friday issued a subpoena against three executives of a recently raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) company in Pasay City.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian moved to subpoena the following "due to the gravity of this issue": 

• Kevin Bautista de Jesus, director
• Fidel Mignon Curitana Sarausad, director
• Delia Abaratigue Montibon, director and treasure

The motion was approved by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who led the Senate investigation into the matter as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.

Gatchalian last week filed a resolution seeking a Senate investigation into the POGO hub in Pasay City that allegedly hosted various illegal activities such as sex trafficking and love and crypto scams.

Gatchalian and Hontiveros on Friday inspected the six-story POGO building in Pasay City where they saw the alleged torture chamber, KTV rooms, canteens, barber shops, restaurants and spa rooms.

After the inspection, the Senate panel held the first hearing on the issue at the building.

The three incorporators of the POGO firm that is being investigated are part of the Senate panel's guest list but they were not present at the hearing.

In his opening statement, Gatchalian said he cannot help but conclude that the Philippines has become a "human slavery hub of the world."

“May sex den, meron pang torture chamber. Nasabi ko nga kanina, hindi magagawa ito ng mga ordinaryong kriminal. Ito ay ginagawa ng mga organized, nandito na sila sa Pilipinas. Katabi lang ng [Department of Foreign Affairs] office, katabi lang ng police station, malapit lang sa Senado,” Gatchalian said.

(There is a sex den and a torture chamber. This cannot be done by ordinary criminals. I believe this is organized and they are already here in our country. This building is just beside the DFA main office, near a police station, and near the Senate building.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News