The National Security Council (NSC) is being pressed to recommend that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declare Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as a national security threat.
Senator Risa Hontiveros raised this issue during an executive session of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, which included various government agencies.
“As the executive session was wrapping up, there was a call for the National Security Council to elevate the matter of POGOs as a national security threat to the President,” Hontiveros shared during the Kapihan sa Senado forum.
Hontiveros hopes the NSC will heed their call and that the President will examine whether POGOs pose a national security risk, and act accordingly.
The senator, who has spearheaded several investigations into human trafficking linked to POGO operations, reiterated her appeal for the industry to be banned in the Philippines, questioning the delay in action.
Believing it is crucial for the NSC to provide its stance on POGOs, Hontiveros expressed optimism that government agencies will coordinate their actions, given that POGO operations are highly organized.
She emphasized that the basis for declaring POGOs a national security threat has grown stronger following the executive session.
The closed meeting also discussed the link analysis by the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and the illegal revenue flows from POGOs.
The Senate panel is currently investigating a raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac. In previous hearings, Hontiveros indicated that this hub might be involved in surveillance activities and hacking of several government websites.