Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILABULLETIN)

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has challenged members of the Filipino-Chinese community to "prove their allegiance" to the country by making their voices heard against the problems that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have caused. 

Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, made the call ahead of the celebration of Philippine Independence Day on June 12. 

“If they (Fil-Chinese) consider themselves Filipinos and are really and genuinely concerned about the country, they should speak out now. If they choose to keep their peace, then at least we know where they stand,” said the veteran lawmaker. 

“I call on all patriotic Filipinos to join us in cleaning our country of these criminal syndicates involved in illegal drugs and POGO and get our society back from these modern day country snatchers,” Barbers said. 

The Mindanaoan is among the most vocal voices in the Houss of Representatives against POGO operations, which proliferated during the previous Duterte administration. 

He claimed that the country has reached a point wherein "POGO politics has complemented narco politics". 

“These POGOs contributed heavily on the deterioration of our moral fiber. They are fronts to Chinese led criminal syndicates, money-laundering, espionage, cyber hacking, wire tapping, and other illegal activities that gave rise to murder, kidnapping for ransom, rape, prostitution, torture and countless other unspeakable barbaric activities," he said as he minced no words. 

"The worst part is when POGO money is teamed up with drug money and used to bribe our officials to buy their silence and cooperation, put Chinese pretending to be Filipinos to high government positions, buy our agricultural lands to compromise our food security, and extend their influence to all corners of the government infrastructure," said Barbers. 

"If we continue to be blind and refuse to read the writings on the wall, we are doomed," he further said.