Courtesy: Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros
SENATOR Win Gatchalian urges a total ban on the operations of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country because they make the country a human trafficking and slavery hub in the world.
During Friday’s hearing, November 10, 2023, of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender, Gatchalian said this form of POGO hub couldn’t be done by ordinary criminals but by organized and well-connected criminal syndicates.
“This happened because they were hiding from a legitimate and licensed POGO operator. We will see that there is a failure on regulation and because there is a failure on regulation, we are now the victims of these syndicates,” Gatchalian said.
“POGO has been banned in many countries and because we are the only one left here, the syndicates come and victimize not only foreigners but our own countrymen. What I fear is that it will get worse and worse and more of our countrymen will be victims,” he added.
Gatchalian accompanied Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the committee, during an ocular inspection at a POGO hub (Smart Web Technology) in Pasay City. Kyle Venturillo
