The Philippines’ Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality announced Monday it will hold an inquiry on 10 July into allegations by PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco that a former cabinet official lobbied for and was involved in the issuance of illegal POGO licenses under the previous regime.
Tengco, who local media says has agreed to appear the inquiry, released a statement on Sunday in which he said he would soon name the official who allegedly tried to facilitate the grant of gaming licenses to some of the illegal POGOs that have been recently raided and found to be engaged in illegal activities. He also noted that there were at one stage 298 issued POGO licenses, which has now been whittled down to just 43 under PAGCOR’s revised Internet Gaming Licensees scheme.
According to Philippine News Agency, Tengco has now been invited to take part in the Senate inquiry to shed light on his comments.
“We are calling a next hearing and I hope the PAGCOR chief deems it right forum to reveal what he knows,” said Senate Deputy Minority Leader and anti-POGO campaigner Risa Hontiveros. “Whoever the ex-cabinet official turns out to be, the fact remains: POGOs are being used as a legal cover for scam hubs.”
In a separate report, the Manila Standard said PAGCOR’s recent statement suggests that former government officials may have received money to lend their support to the POGO industry.
“That shows that money really changed hands that is why these POGOs are able to get the support of former officials,” it quoted Senator Juan Edgardo Angara as saying.
PAGCOR Assistant Vice President Catalino Alano Jr also said Monday that “several government officials” have approached the regulator to lobby for the license of some POGOs.
“The Chairman himself got calls and hints from those officials,” Alano said. “There were many who reached out to the Chairman, to PAGCOR, for their request to get a license because as you know, a big sum of money is involved in this.”
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