THE Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said the several local government units (LGUs) are now seeking government assistance to investigate potential illicit activities by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in their respective areas.
Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, head of PAOCC, shared this information with reporters last Friday while filing a qualified human trafficking case against beleaguered Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
When asked how many LGUs have coordinated with the PAOCC so far, Cruz said in a chance interview, “Four, so far.”
He identified the provincial government of Pampanga as one of these LGUs.
“Yes, after the case of Mayor Guo became public, several LGUs have contacted us,” Cruz said.
“This issue is spreading. Other LGUs have reached out to us, seeking the help of the inter-agency task force to identify suspected illegal POGO hubs in their areas. They likely feel a responsibility to their constituents, which is why they are now coordinating with the inter-agency task force,” he added.
Last Friday, the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and PAOCC have filed a non-bailable offense of qualified human trafficking against Guo before the Department of Justice.
She was accused of complicity with the alleged illegal activities of POGOs in her town.
Guo, suspended for six months by the Office of the Ombudsman, is already under intense scrutiny following graft complaints filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regarding her alleged involvement with a raided POGO in her area.
The DILG had filed a formal complaint against Guo with the Office of the Ombudsman, stemming from her issuance of a permit to Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., despite the company’s failure to meet the requirements and possessing an expired license from PAGCOR.
Also, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will investigate her for possible tax evasion. It disclosed that if Guo’s declared income does not match her property acquisitions during the relevant taxable years, criminal charges will be pursued against her.
