Senate panel urges raps vs. Sual mayor, gov't execs linked to POGO, Alice Guo
The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality has urged the filing of cases against public officials involved in POGO activities and those who protected dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, also identified as Guo Hua Ping.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the panel, made the recommendation as she sponsored the committee's report which was the product of the investigation into the human trafficking cases and other illegal activities linked to POGOs.
The committee, in its report, indicated specifically the filing of cases against Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo Calugay, and the government employees in his staff, as it concluded that Guo's ties to the mayor highlighted "the complicity of certain local officials in enabling transnational criminal networks."
GMA News Online sought the comment of Calugay through his official Facebook page, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.
The Hontiveros-led panel also recommended filing of cases of economic sabotage under Republic Act 12010 or Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act against those apprehended in POGO-related raids after July 2024 or the passage of the measure.
While there are already cases against Tony Yang also known as Yang Jianxin for falsification of public documents, perjury, and violations of the Anti-Alias Law, the committee still recommended the filing of cases related to his obtainment and use of fraudulent Filipino identity.
Apart from this, it is recommended that the authorities deepen the preliminary information received on the possible intelligence work of Michael Yang, Tony Yang and Hongjiang Yang for a foreign state.
Meanwhile, the committee wants the Department of Foreign Affairs to continue its efforts to reach out to She Zhijiang, the self-confessed Chinese spy in an Al Jazeera documentary, through the Thai authorities to get more information on Guo's possible involvement in espionage and malign foreign influence.
The Senate panel also wanted a clarification on the president's Executive Order No. 74 or the order for the POGO's total ban, particularly on Section 2(b) which states, "This definition excludes online games of chance conducted in PAGCOR-operated casinos, licensed casinos, or integrated resorts with junket agreements."
"The evil elements brought by POGOs are still here, Mr. President, and other legal entities and avenues remain in jeopardy of being used as Trojan horses. Nandiyan ang Special Class of BPOs. Nandyan ang mga katulad na negosyo sa ilalim ng special economic zones," Hontiveros said in her sponsorship speech.
"Nandyan ang mga POGO na maaaring mag-operate sa casino o integrated resorts na may junket agreement o lisensyado ng PAGCOR. Ngayon pa lang may nakukuha nang report ang aming opisina mula sa empleyado ng POGO. Pinapalipat na sila ng base of operations sa isang casino sa Parañaque, at gaya ng sa POGO, naka-dorm sa isang condominium sa Pasay," she mentioned.
Hontiveros said scam operations and all other fraudulent activities of POGOs will continue if the government does not monitor them.
With this, the committee urges the enactment of a law totally banning offshore gaming entities and activities, and all kinds of service providers.
The measure, Hontiveros said, should include harsh penalties for public officers who aid and abet POGOs and make the ban as comprehensive and as decisive as possible, covering in particular online games of chance conducted in PAGCOR-operated casinos, licensed casinos, or integrated resorts with junket agreements.
Another recommendation of the committee was for the Bureau of Immigration to immediately report to the Senate the reforms implemented to address not just the escape of Guo, but the reported involvement of BI personnel in the inbound trafficking of POGO workers and the outbound trafficking of Filipinos to work in scam compounds abroad.
The streamlining of the issuance of visas by different authorities and the creation of a single database similar to the Homeland Security in the United States of America were likewise recommended by the panel.
The database should show all visa information for individuals seeking to enter the country and should be accessible to relevant authorities to allow a unified view of travelers' visa history and his or her potential security risks.
The committee report was signed by Senators Raffy Tulfo, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa (may interpellate and amend), Bong Go (may amend), Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano (may interpellate), Imee Marcos (may amend), Robin Padilla (may interpellate), Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Lito Lapid, Migz Zubiri, Loren Legarda, JV Ejercito (may interpellate), Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Tolentino (may interpellate), and Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.
Legarda and Senator Joel Villanueva backed the recommendations enumerated by Hontiveros.
In her speech, Legarda said the Senate investigation was not about one individual only, but about the "extensive web of deceit—a network of human trafficking, money laundering, document falsification, corruption, owning hectares of our lands by aliens for criminal activities, and other illegal operations."
She highlighted the fraudulent acquisition of legitimate government documents by aliens, saying this "carries grave and far-reaching consequences" and "facilitates crimes such as human trafficking and identity theft, inflicting direct harm on Filipino citizens."
"It creates unfair competition for jobs and social services meant for our people. It enables foreigners to acquire our land and even run for public office. Worst of all, it erodes public confidence in our institutions and jeopardizes national security," she said.
"To those who facilitated, conspired, and aided these despicable acts—whether seated in power or lurking in the shadows—your actions will not go unpunished. Justice will prevail, and the Filipino people will not be left to suffer in silence," she added.
Legarda reiterated her call for a comprehensive review of fraudulently issued birth certificates and a thorough investigation into the role of public officials and employees complicit in these transactions.
For his part, Villanueva said he fully supports not only the efforts to hold Guo accountable but also to permanently end the POGO operations in the country.
He then suggested the following proposals in addition to the committee recommendations a strong regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and the enhanced coordination between the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Villanueva also pitched for the passage of Senate Bill 2868 or the Anti-POGO Act and the strengthening of the Freedom of Information policy.—LDF, GMA Integrated News