Lawmakers on Tuesday renewed their call for the government to ban offshore gaming operations in the Philippines, saying these have become a breeding ground for illegal activities including kidnapping and money laundering. READ:
“There have been multiple reports of kidnapping and even murder of those working in the industry,” Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a statement in mixed English and Filipino. “Rather than benefiting the economy, the presence of POGOs has harmed the reputation of our country in the international community.”
Pagcor Assistant Vice-President Jessa Mariz R. Fernandez told the hearing they had yet to coordinate with other agencies about the incident, adding that the company involved had been fined. “Let’s not forget the crucial role of the third-party auditor in determining the taxes and regulatory fees of POGOs,” he said in a statement.The consortium had submitted a bank guarantee in its favor worth $25 million , the bank was not registered in the country, he said, citing the Philippine central bank. It’s offices were fictitious and the company did not get building permits, he added.
Police also found 400 mobile phones, 17 desktop computers, 36 laptops, nine modems and more than P1.3 million in cash. They also found 73 Chinese passports, Ms. Castro said.
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