Lower house committees conduct hearing on crimes, illegal activities in POGOs

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00:00Those who are in favor of an all-out ban on Pogos always argue that the ill effects of these ventures outweigh the benefits.

00:07Perhaps if those who witnessed the horrific ordeal, some of the victims of these establishments went through and

00:14presented before the lower house hearing, they would think twice about supporting such endeavors.

00:19Mela Lesmoras tells us more.

00:21This worker has been crying and screaming in pain, but the beating does not let up or relent.

00:34In a separate video, a woman is being slapped and hit multiple times.

00:40While in this footage, the victim is blindfolded while being mistreated.

00:45All these are actual videos of the torture experienced by victims of this illegal Pogos in the country.

00:52They were presented by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission or PAOC at the joint hearing of the House Committee on Public

00:59Order and Safety and the Committee on Games and Amusements to testify and comment on the severity of the crimes and illegal activities

01:07perpetrated by Pogos. During the inquiry, some rescued workers also appeared and recounted their ordeals.

01:13When I arrived, okay, in Baman Talak, the place there, he told me to wait in the

01:20Domestery there. He said he would go to do something and then come back later.

01:25And then I just wait, wait until around 30 minutes after the office,

01:30like the in-charge, maybe the admin or anything,

01:33he's coming to call in me and then go to the supervisor place and then he would tell me I need to work in there

01:39and then I think I already got sell.

01:42Dilan, as he was telling his story, he was sold.

01:45He was sold in Sunyuan in Bawangpu.

01:48The one who sold him was his partner.

01:51There were times when our witnesses fainted so he was the one who was beaten.

01:56He was given to us by the Malaysian Embassy because he was able to text the company

02:02and he showed the beatings on his face.

02:05Several lawmakers reiterated Pogo crimes in the country must end quickly and must end now.

02:11The PAOK and DOJ both agree.

02:14We cannot deny that criminal activities occur in Pogos.

02:18We likewise cannot deny that the licenses of Pogos or IGLs

02:23have been used to create a veneer of legality for their illegal activity.

02:28We have to admit that our perspective is on the negative side,

02:31being on the justice and law enforcement sector.

02:34Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin gave us a clear and urgent directive

02:39to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking in our country

02:44and ensure the rescue of all its victims.

02:48Consequently, after extensive intelligence work and coordination with our partners

02:54from law enforcement agencies like the DOJ-IACAT, the Philippine National Police,

02:59our campaign against illegal trafficking has directly led us to the conduct of raids

03:04on numerous illegal Pogos.

03:06According to PACOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tenco,

03:09due to their intensified measures, only 45 legal Pogos remain in the country

03:14and three of them are suspended.

03:16PACOR emphasized the economic benefits of legal Pogos but insists

03:20they are ready to comply with any directives from the administration on the matter.

03:25If you ask us what our plans are for offshore gaming,

03:30this is just a small part of our plans.

03:36We want to employ 24-7 monitoring on all operating sites

03:44and we are planning to remove the framework for the hubs.

03:50For now, we only have one hub

03:54and we would like to impose higher fines and penalties

03:59to airing licenses and service providers.

04:03In the coming weeks, the Joint Committee will also invite other personalities

04:07including former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

04:11Melales Moras from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.

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