Poe on POGOs

The recent raid in Tarlac bares how illegal operations of offshore gaming have sprawled in the country victimizing the public.

The crimes associated with these pernicious POGO activities have become more vicious including human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping for ransom, torture, online scam and fake IDs and passports.

As early as September last year, a Senate panel has recommended the ban on POGOs as they have made the country a fertile ground for various crimes.

It is interesting to note from reports that in the Tarlac raid, the spokesperson of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission said that the request for the warrants was made after information from the Malaysian Embassy came about its national being detained inside the complex.

Without a concrete policy yet on the cessation of POGO operations, it is incumbent for our law enforcers and concerned government agencies to intensify their actions to thwart the fraudulent activities.

Our inability to stop the POGO-related crimes will be a mockery of our laws and will perpetuate the cycle of exploitation and abuse not only of Filipinos but of their foreigner victims.