Chinese-operated Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) businesses and the alleged illegal activities emanating from its operations are considered a national security concern by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
“Why is it considered a national security concern? It weakens our political, economic, social, and peace and order fabric,” Teodoro said on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 126th anniversary of the Philippine Independence Day at the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion in Manila North Cemetery on Wednesday, June 12.
The defense chief said that one of the most effective ways for an adversary to weaken its opponent is to “wreak havoc” in their country.
“So we are carefully studying these tactics. The government is working together to stop these activities. They don’t have the right to do these things in our country,” Teodoro noted.
Over the weekend, authorities from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) raided a POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga where they seized cash, jewelries, computer devices suspectedly used in scamming activities, and military uniforms from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
This raised suspicion of the government that some Chinese soldiers might be operating as POGO employees inside the hub that was the subject of complaint for alleged human trafficking.
The PAOCC estimated that there are about 300 illegal POGO hubs in the country.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Frances Margareth Padilla said they have coordinated with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) to verify the source and authenticity of the Chinese military uniforms.
“The PAOCC is already conducting its investigation so for the part of the AFP, we will be supporting them. Our concern is national security and with the uniform that we’ve seen, these are all parts of evidence at hand,” she said.
“We are trying to look at the veracity of the report, whether they are [legitimate] uniforms and these are also very few in number to be part of their troops. We don’t want to unnecessarily cause panic to the general public,” she added.
The operation in Porac was connected to the raid and eventual shutdown of another POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac last March.
The town mayor, Alice Guo, is the subject of an investigation by the government to determine whether or not she is connected to the illegal activities conducted by the POGO in her area although she has already denied any involvement.
The AFP said it was investigating claims of possible Chinese spies’ infiltration into the country due to the recent developments linked to the POGO raids.
Padilla acknowledged that some POGOs were built near military facilities, prompting discussion among lawmakers to suspend and totally ban the operations of POGO in the country.
“These are the realities that we are facing. These are contemporary challenges so we will determine what would be the implication towards our national security. The Armed Forces of the Philippines will have the necessary contingency measures for all these things,” the military spokesperson said.