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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House to invite ex-Cabinet official who lobbied for illegal POGOs; Barbers tells Pagcor chief to spill beans

House to invite ex-Cabinet official who lobbied for illegal POGOs; Barbers tells Pagcor chief to spill beans

Published Jul 2, 2024 07:19 am

At A Glance

  • Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said on Tuesday, July 2, that the House of Representatives plans to invite the supposed "former high ranking Cabinet member" who allegedly help secured gaming licenses for several illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) to a congressional inquiry once his or her identity is made public.

Screenshot_20230814-184629_YouTube.jpgPAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco (Screenshot from YouTube)

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said on Tuesday, July 2, that the House of Representatives plans to invite the supposed “former high ranking Cabinet member” who allegedly help secured gaming licenses for several illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) to a congressional inquiry once his or her identity is made public.

This, as Barbers appealed to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to unveil this "blind item" once and for all.

“Kaya nga we urge the Pagcor management, ilabas niyo kung sino yung Cabinet official na yan. Hindi pwedeng maging suspense yung pagbubunyag ng mga pangalan,” he said during a press conference.

(That's why we urge the Pagcor management, reveal who that Cabinet official is. Revealing the names should not be marked with suspense.)

“Kung may pagkakasala, mayron nagawang pagkakamali yan dapat siguro ipahayag ng PAGCOR kung sinu-sino ang mga taong nasa likod nito,” he continued.

(If there was an offense or a mistake committed, then Pagcor should immediately announce who are the people behind it.)

On Saturday, Pagcor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alejandro Tengco said those investigating the suspicious activities of former POGO licensees should also look into the role of former officials and their conduits in the grant of licenses to POGO applicants with dubious backgrounds.

Tengco said that he will reveal the identity of the former Cabinet official “in the proper forum”.

Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said this official would be invited in a future inquiry for his or her participation in “enabling” the proliferation of POGOs involved in illegal activities.

“Base don sa aming information, kaya daw namamayagpag yung mga illegal POGO hubs na ito dahil mayrong nagba-back up na malalaking tao o impluwensiyal na mga tao,” the lawmaker said.

(Based on our information, it is said that these illegal POGO hubs are spreading because there are powerful or influential people backing them up.)

Aside from revealing the name of the former Cabinet official, Barbers is also pushing for the disclosure of the whole list of legitimate POGOs, as well as the list of illegal gaming operators.

According to Pagcor, there are over 200 illegal POGOs present in the country.

Barbers further said that once it is proven that the certain unnamed official did in fact facilitate the accreditation of an illegal POGO hub, it would certainly be a crime.

He said this was a “big question mark” that should hold perpetrators accountable.

The veteran congressman went as far as to call them “Makabagong (Modern) Makapili” over the supposed traitorous move that led criminal syndicates from foreign shores to set up shop in the country.

During Japan’s occupation of the Philippines, the “Makapili” were known as collaborators who provided military aid and intelligence to the Imperial Japanese Army.

When asked by reporters, Barbers said he has someone in mind on who could be the person Tengco was alluding to. He noted that he has heard stories about government officials lobbying for POGOs.

Related Tags

POGOs Robert Ace Barbers PAGCOR FORMER CABINET MEMBERS
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