The Senate’s five-year investigation into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) has unveiled a “web” of individuals who manipulated the industry for personal gain, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros.
As she concluded the Senate Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality Committee’s inquiry, Hontiveros branded POGOs as a “Trojan horse” that brought more harm than good.
“For five long years… the committee tried to leave no stone unturned to unravel the many evils brought to our shores by POGOs—welcomed with open arms by the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte,” she said.
Exposing the Network
Hontiveros presented a detailed chart linking several high-profile figures to the misuse of POGOs, including:
- Former President Rodrigo Duterte
- His ex-presidential adviser Michael Yang
- Individuals implicated in the Pharmally scandal
- Alleged Chinese spy She Zhijiang
- Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and her associates
- Cassie Ong
- Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque
The investigation revealed that POGOs facilitated corruption and exploitation, Hontiveros said, asserting that they brought nothing but “nightmares” to the Filipino people.
Legislative Reforms Ahead
Hontiveros clarified that the inquiry’s goal was not to target specific individuals but to highlight systemic flaws in laws and policies that enabled such abuses.
Among the legislative gaps identified were issues in:
- Birth registration
- Immigration procedures
- Passport and visa applications
- Business registration
- Bank secrecy
- Election systems
“The verdict? When weighed, our laws were sadly lacking,” Hontiveros lamented.
Despite concluding the hearings, Hontiveros vowed to push for legislative reforms to prevent future abuses tied to POGOs. She also warned former Mayor Alice Guo, saying, “Guo Hua Ping, I will ensure you won’t repeat these acts, and the lessons from this will not be forgotten.”
Arrest Order Lifted
Hontiveros announced that the Senate’s arrest order against Guo has been rescinded. However, the senator emphasized that this marks only the beginning of efforts to enact stronger safeguards against POGO-related exploitation.