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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hontiveros alarmed over link of convicted former gov't official to Bamban, Porac POGOs

Hontiveros alarmed over link of convicted former gov't official to Bamban, Porac POGOs

Published Jun 17, 2024 04:24 am

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, June 17 expressed alarm over the reported link of convicted former Technology and Resource Center Director General, Dennis Cunanan, to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in both Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.


 

The senator said documents showing that Cunanan, who was sentenced to a 26-year jail term for his involvement in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, acted as an “authorized representative” for the Hong Sheng  Gaming Technology Inc. in Bamban as well as the Lucky South 99 Limited Co.  in Porac.


 

Both POGO companies were raided by authorities recently over allegations of human trafficking, abuses and other criminal activities.


 

Hontiveros pointed out Cunanan figured in “one of the largest corruption scandals our country has ever seen.”


 

“Baka yung ginawa niya sa PDAF ay ina-apply niya rin dito sa mga POGO. Pinapakita din nito na may koneksyon talaga ang Bamban at Porac na POGO. Tila nagsama-sama silang mga scammer (What he must have done in the PDAF scam is the same thing he is applying here in POGO. It also shows how the Bamban and Porqc POGOs are connected. It seems these scammers huddled together),” Hontiveros said.


 

“We will invite Mr. Cunanan to the next hearing to clarify his involvement. Basta may POGO, may koneksyon sa scam. Sabi ko nga, lahat ng POGO, masama (As long as it is POGO, it has connections to scam. As I said, all POGO is bad),” she said.


 

“There is no differentiation between bad POGO or ‘good’ POGO. It seems that POGOs are deliberately tapping former and present officials they can easily corrupt,” added the senator who is leading the inquiry into the participation of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo in POGO scam operations


 

Hontiveros pointed out influencing public officials is part of POGOs’ strategy to continue their criminal activities in the country.


 

“Kaya hindi matanggal-tanggal ang POGO sa bansa kasi mukhang may mga binayaran na silang mga opisyal. Alam ng POGO na malaking kahinaan ng Pilipinas ang korapsyon kaya sinasamantala nila ito (We can’t rid POGOs out of the country because it seems they have paid some officials. POGOs know that the greatest weakness of the Philippines is corruption that’s why they take advantage of it),” the senator said.


 

Hontiveros reiterated her call for fellow public servants to join the growing call to ban POGOs now.


 

“We must show these POGOs that the Philippines does not have a price,” Hontiveros stressed.

Related Tags

POGOs Risa Hontiveros POGO industry Alice Guo
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