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Officials from various government agencies attend the senate Inquiry on money laundering, crimes, and other illegal activities associated with the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, held at the Senate building in Pasay City on March 5, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

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POGO

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1718606886080171826529376120200305-senate-philippines-offshore-gaming-pogo-JC-6898.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Officials from various government agencies attend the senate Inquiry on money laundering, crimes, and other illegal activities associated with the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, held at the Senate building in Pasay City on March 5, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="white-space:pre-wrap">Officials from various government agencies attend the senate Inquiry on money laundering, crimes, and other illegal activities associated with the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, held at the Senate building in Pasay City on March 5, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></span>  </div><p>MANILA — A former government official found guilty in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam could possibly be linked to the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/6/5/pogo-hub-sa-pampanga-sinalakay-higit-150-dayuhan-natagpuan-1744">• POGO hub sa Pampanga sinalakay; higit 150 dayuhan natagpuan</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/10/porac-pampanga-mayor-kinondena-ang-ilegal-na-aktibidad-sa-ni-raid-na-pogo-1341">• Porac, Pampanga mayor kinondena ang ilegal na aktibidad sa ni-raid na POGO</a></div><p>Based on the documents from the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, it showed letters addressed to former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/10/-pogo-politics-suspected-china-ties-of-tarlac-town-mayor-alarms-solon-1016">• &#x27;POGO-politics&#x27;: Suspected China ties of Tarlac town mayor alarms solon</a></div><p>In the letter dated September 10, 2020, the sender named Thelma Barrago Laranan identified herself and former Technology and Resource Center director general Dennis Cunanan as representatives of Hongsheng Gaming Technology, Inc. located in Bamban.</p><p>In a letter dated October 20, 2020, Cunanan himself wrote Domingo a letter saying he was a representative of Lucky South 99 Limited, Co. Lucky South 99 is the illegal POGO recently raided in Porac.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/10/porac-pogo-had-no-license-to-operate-based-on-pagcor-doc-1902">• Porac POGO had no license to operate, based on PAGCOR doc</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/15/document-with-roque-s-signature-found-in-porac-pogo-hub-has-no-criminal-value-1318">• Document with Roque&#x27;s signature found in Porac POGO hub &#x27;has no criminal value&#x27;: PAOCC</a></div><p>Both Laranan and Cunanan were applying for a registration to operate a POGO.</p><p>In 2023, the Sandiganbayan handed down guilty verdicts against Cunanan over some PDAF cases such as the alleged misuse of the PDAF of the late Negros Oriental 3rd District representative Herminio Teves.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/07/23/ex-trc-officials-acquitted-in-p10-m-pdaf-scam-cases">• Ex-TRC officials acquitted in P10-M PDAF scam cases</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/01/19/24/what-ever-happened-to-pdaf-scam-cases-vs-senators">• TIMELINE: What happened to the cases of senators charged in pork barrel scam?</a></div><p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the committee, sounded the alarm over the possible link of Cunanan to the illegal POGOs.</p><p>“Cunanan figured in one of the largest corruption scandals our country has ever seen. Baka yung ginawa niya sa PDAF ay ina-apply niya rin dito sa mga POGO. Pinapakita din nito na may koneksyon talaga ang Bamban at Porac na POGO. Tila nagsama-sama silang mga scammer,” Hontiveros said in a statement.</p><p>(Cunanan might have applied in the POGOs what he did in the PDAF. This also shows that there really is a connection between the POGOs in Bamban and Tarlac. It seems like these scammers came together.)</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/8/hontiveros-questions-nationality-of-bamban-town-mayor-1812">• Hontiveros questions nationality of Bamban mayor linked to POGOs</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;OUR CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Cunanan said that when they were contracted as an independent consultant to help the companies register for possible POGO operations, &quot;everything was legally undertaken and followed.&quot;</p><p><strong></strong>&quot;The companies mentioned at that time were properly and legally registered in our country. Without any derogatory record or illegal actions associated to them.  (Will never be engaged then with them if they have records like what they have now),&quot; Cunanan said in a statement. </p><p>&quot;The submissions to regulatory and licensing bodies were diligently followed and observed. Everything went through the regular process without any evidence of any extra-ordinary circumstances,&quot; he added. </p><p>Cunanan said their <span id="isPasted" style="caret-color:rgb(65, 65, 65);color:rgb(65, 65, 65)">consultancy engagements were limited to</span> companies&#x27; registration and they were never part of its operations. He added that they have &quot;long stopped all engagements&quot; with the firms. </p><p>&quot;It is unfortunate that the PDAF cases are being mentioned and dragged in these issues sensationally and I am being publicly portrayed as a convicted person when we have more acquittals than the conviction being mentioned which is still subject to final judgement with the Supreme Court,&quot; Cunanan said. </p><p>&quot;Our conscience is very clear regarding this matter and we join law enforcement agencies in their efforts to stop illegal activities. Again, we were and are NOT at all party to the issues at hand as a private individual. We did our private professional work then properly like any other hard working citizen of this country,&quot; he continued.</p><p>Cunanan will be invited to the next Senate hearing on POGOs, Hontiveros said. </p><p>“It seems that POGOs are deliberately tapping former and present officials they can easily corrupt,” the senator said.</p><p>“Kaya hindi matanggal-tanggal ang POGO sa bansa kasi mukhang may mga binayaran na silang mga opisyal. Alam ng POGO na malaking kahinaan ng Pilipinas ang korapsyon kaya sinasamantala nila ito,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/13/pogo-paradise-how-the-philippines-became-a-hub-for-illegal-pogos-1524">• POGO Paradise: How the Philippines became a hub for illegal POGOs</a></div><p>(The reason why we cannot remove POGOs in the country is because it seems like they have already paid some officials. POGOs know that the Philippines’ weakness is corruption which is why they are taking advantage of this.)</p><p>Hontiveros called on her fellow public servants to ban POGOs.</p><div> </div><div><strong>HOLD LGUs ACCOUNTABLE</strong></div><div> </div><p>For Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, local government officials who fail to monitor illegal POGOs must be made accountable.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/5/14/tarlac-gov-t-had-no-idea-about-pogo-in-bamban-official-1912">• Tarlac gov’t had no idea about POGO in Bamban: official</a></div><p>He said this in light of the investigation of the Pampanga provincial board on how Lucky South 99 was able to operate.</p><p>“The immediate action of the Pampanga provincial board to investigate how an illegal POGO facility managed to undertake illegal activities right under the nose of LGU officials is commendable and worthy of imitation. Surely, certain LGU personnel have been neglectful of their duties for a POGO hub to commit unspeakable crimes and remain undetected but concerned LGU officials and personnel should be held accountable,&quot; Gatchalian said in a statement. </p><p>“LGUs should show tenacity in their commitment to maintaining peace and order in their localities as this is a necessary prelude to sustainable economic development.”</p><p>He called on other LGUs in Pampanga to emulate the provincial government’s actions and once again called to ban POGOs.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pKYG0c9XICE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>For Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, local government officials who fail to monitor illegal POGOs must be made accountable.</p>

For Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, local government officials who fail to monitor illegal POGOs must be made accountable.

Hontiveros: Ex-official convicted over 'pork' scam may be linked to illegal POGOs in Bamban, Porac

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Hontiveros: Ex-official convicted over 'pork' scam may be linked to illegal POGOs in Bamban, Porac

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 17, 2024 04:10 PM PHT

Read More:

POGO

dennis cunanan

pdaf

porac pampanga

bamban tarlac

risa hontiveros

sherwin gatchalian

crime

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