House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

By ELLSON QUISMORIO 

Members of a joint House committee tried--but failed--to stomach video clips of alleged torture on individuals recorded within Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs in the country.

Santa Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez, chairman of the House Committee on Public Order, green-lit the showing of the "torture videos" during a motu probe Wednesday, July 17 on the alleged proliferation of criminal activities and unlawful acts linked POGOs. 

But only excepts of not more than five clips were played during the panel probe before Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said enough was enough. 

Shown in these videos were women being hit on their heads and bodies with what appeared to be a metal pipe; and men being electrocuted, with one of them even stripped naked. 

The torture victims--most of whom were foreigners--were reportedly punished for infractions in connection with the criminal activities inside the POGO hubs. 

Fernandez claims the torture videos get much worse. "We have seen a lot of videos, I have seen, others you cannot take anymore, especially on the abuse on the sexual torture." 

"There was a sexual torture [video], man-to-man, pinaparusahan yung hindi sumusunod doon sa kanilang pinag uutos (they were punished for not following orders given to them)," he said. 
 

The inquiry was held together with the House Committee on Games and Amusement. 

"A while ago, I was telling this body that we were going to show it. Not only because the direction of the Speaker [Martin Romualdez] is to have a comprehensive investigation...precisely the very essence of the motu proprio is to investigate the illegal activities," explained the Laguna lawmaker. 

In a manifestation in the middle of the video-showing, a shaken Adiong said: "For the other videos, may we request, because some of us here do not have a [high] tolerance of, you know, watching all of these tortures, especially women." 

"May we request Mr. Chair that we no longer show these videos? Remember, we are livestreamed, streaming on YouTube. There are kids who may view these videos....a testimony is enough," he said. 

"Siguro [Perhaps] we have shown already a lot, siguro [perhaps] we can stop on that," Fernandez said in response. No video on sexual torture was shown to the committee. 
 

At least one of the torture victims in the videos attended the Wednesday hearing, along with four other victims earlier rescued by Philippine authorities. They wore black bonnets over their faces to protect their identities.

Another solon in Leyte 4th district Rep. Richard Gomez agreed that the joint panel had also seen enough details on the POGO torture, but he argued that the Filipino public needed to see a visual of what was happening in certain hubs. 

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"Gruesome as it may be to show these videos Mr. Chair, it is very important for everyone to see what is happening inside the POGO," he said. 

"If people are seeing what is happening inside these POGO hubs, then you feel the pain, you feel the torture, you feel the illegal activities happening inside. And then people are having an understanding," added Gomez.
 

Cavite 6th district Rep. Antonio Ferrer, chairman of the games and amusements panel, echoed Fernandez's concerns and underscored the importance of a collaborative effort to address the issue. 

“The proliferation of illegal POGOs and their associated crimes is a serious threat to our society. It is imperative that we work together to eliminate these operations and protect the welfare of both our citizens and foreign workers," Ferrer said.