The Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality inquiry into reports of human trafficking, scams and other alleged crimes involving POGOs of Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac.
13:46It's just that I only see them in the market.
13:50What is this? Do you know them personally?
13:54I don't know them personally because I was with them in 2018.
13:59When I left the town, I was already in Jepmina,
14:02I was already a barrier in Dutong Amatas.
14:06I don't see them that much anymore.
14:08Except for Rowena, where I buy vegetables once a week.
14:13So Rowena is a vendor, right?
14:19Rowena Evangelista is a vegetable vendor.
14:21And Telma?
14:22She is a breakfast vendor in Omaga.
14:25And Rita?
14:26She has a place where she sells inasal in Concepcion.
14:32So she is also a vendor?
14:34Yes.
14:35Are you a vendor?
14:36No.
14:37Oh, you're not a vendor.
14:38I used to sell iso-iso before I got a job.
14:46It's just that it's hard to do because there's a lot of work.
14:51But because I studied, I tried to get a job in BTO.
14:57I was thinking, why did you choose to be an incorporator?
15:03I still don't have an idea.
15:07And I believe that you are not incorporators.
15:10I believe that.
15:12Because we went to the houses one by one.
15:15Let's show Weng Evangelista.
15:18Please show it on the slide.
15:25Actually, I went to Weng.
15:30I don't think she will be an investor in Pogo.
15:34Her house is like that.
15:38We also rented Rita's house in Turalde in Nex.
15:48I don't think she will be an investor in Pogo.
15:57We also have a picture of Thelma Laranan.
16:06I believe that you are not investors in Pogo.
16:12I think you are investors in barbecues and banana queues.
16:18But I don't think you will be an investor in Pogo.
16:24This is where I will now direct my questions to PAG-COR.
16:31Before we go to PAG-COR, I have a follow-up question.
16:34It's not about Ms. Merly, but it's about Ms. Merly.
16:38I have a question about BIR.
16:42Yes, ma'am.
16:43Engineer?
16:44Sorry, Attorney Tibayan.
16:47Is there an update on Tin Di Umano of Ms. Castro in the articles of incorporation of Hong Sheng?
16:56Yes, Madam Chair.
16:58Upon checking our system, it seems that the Tin assigned to Ms. Merly Castro in the SEC articles of incorporation does not belong to any individual.
17:08Further, ma'am, with the permission of Ms. Merly Castro, may we also verify the correct Tin of Ms. Castro?
17:16We also showed that earlier.
17:18Ms. Merly, what is your correct Tin number?
17:23223-984-212-000
17:27Yes, ma'am.
17:28We'd like to confirm that the details of her Tin on the ID presented is consistent with that in our system.
17:36Thank you, ma'am.
17:37Thank you very much, Attorney Tibayan, for validating Ms. Merly's Tin number and the information that the Tin number used for her as a Di Umanong co-incorporator of Hong Sheng doesn't belong to any individual.
17:54So, it's just an invented number.
17:56It's not the number of other taxpayers of our Republic.
18:01Okay, so good for that to be made of record, Ms. Merly.
18:04Ms. Merly, and in the hearing of DOJ, Iaka, I hope you are more confident to consider the advice of USEC-T to clear your name.
18:19Thank you, Ms. Merly.
18:20Thank you, Sen. Sherwin.
18:21Thank you.
18:22Thank you, Madam Chairman.
18:23But that will prove that these syndicates don't care to put their names and who they are.
18:35And if they are caught, they will not be caught and will be charged with no bailable offense, these innocent people.
18:45That's why I will go to the PAG Corps because under your guidelines, you have a probity check.
18:52If we went to the houses one by one and we saw that they don't have a way to invest in POGO, why didn't the PAG Corps do it?
19:02And what happened now, because you didn't do the probity check, these people like Merly will be charged.
19:09The syndicates are free. Others are still here in the Philippines.
19:15So a simple inspection that will help prevent Merly and her associates from being charged, why didn't the PAG Corps do it?
19:23It's in your guidelines. There's a probity check in the guidelines.
19:31You violated your own guidelines.
19:36Yes, sir.
19:38This is one of the things that we are addressing.
19:41The addresses of the incorporators are being checked one by one.
19:47Because in the previous probity check that was done, it only includes the documentations, the documents of the corporation,
19:58as well as the cases or check on world databases if they are involved in whatever kinds of activities.
20:08That's just a probity check. If it's all about documents, that's also a probity check.
20:14Sir, we are also talking to the third party probity checker to include such kind of checks.
20:21Who is the third party probity checker?
20:24We have three.
20:26Why didn't the PAG Corps do it themselves?
20:30Now, the PAG Corps is doing it themselves.
20:33Why are we still outsourcing probity checkers? Maybe they can still talk to each other.
20:38Yes, sir.
20:39You should also do a probity check.
20:42Yes, sir. You're right.
20:44Now, we are addressing this problem.
20:49Even all of the addresses that are included in the Articles of Incorporation and declared in the personal disclosure sheets of these incorporators,
20:58they are being checked one by one to determine if the incorporator is existent or if the incorporator really has the ability to invest in such kind of business.
21:13But this incident is the same with Lucky South 99.
21:18In the Provincial Government Investigation, they also have a so-called person.
21:26The answer is the same.
21:28So, in other words, this is not just in Banban Pogo Hub.
21:33We can also see this in Pampanga Pogo Hub and other Pogo Hubs.
21:38So, we are here because the probity check failed.
21:44Therefore, the regulation also failed.
21:46This wouldn't have happened if you went one by one.
21:50We did this in one day, to be honest about it.
21:53Why didn't you do it?
21:54So, that's an issue that PAG Corps needs to address ASAP.
