PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco during the Senate Hearing on illegal POGOs in Pasay City on July 10, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is already banning the use of hubs for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said during a Senate hearing on Wednesday that this is one of the changes that they have instituted.

"'Di na po kami pumapayag na nasa malalaki at maluluwag na lugar sila," said Tengco.

[We no longer allow POGOs to be in big areas.]

READ: How a PH Navy officer became 'incorporator' of nearly 200 companies, some POGOs

"In the meantime na wala pa namang order ng closure, this early we will not allow any hub existing or going to be applied for. We will not approve it anymore because we want to be cite specific and building specific," he added.

PAGCOR will also deploy 24/7 teams that will monitor the 43 licensed POGOs.

"Kung may mapansin kami agad takbo na kami sa kapulisan," Tengco added.

(If we notice something we will immediately alert the police.)

He reiterated the possibility of illegal activities still continuing if POGOs are banned, but said they will respect it if this is the direction of the government.

"Kung ano ang pinal na desisyon ng Pangulo, Kongreso, ako 'di niyo problemahin. Ako magsasabi sa pamunuan ng PAGCOR na ito ay desisyon na dapat galangin," he added.

[Whatever the final decision of the President and Congress is, I will not be a problem. I will tell the PAGCOR leadership to respect their decision.]

PORAC MAYOR

Also present during the hearing was Porac, Pampanga Mayor Jaime Capil who was questioned for not acting on a 2021 letter of the Philippine National Police about possible criminal activities in the Royal Hotel which was operated by the POGO Lucky South 99.

READ: Senators confront Porac mayor over 'non-action' vs illegal POGO

"In all honesty. 'di nakarating sakin ang sulat. Kung nakarating lang sa’kin 'di maaaring 'di namin naaksyunan 'yan," Capil said.

(In all honesty the letter never reached me. If it did, we would have acted on it.)

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian pointed out, however, that the letter was received by Capil’s office.

"Based sa records, ang next action na ng LGU is itong 2023 inspection. So Mayor Capil bakit ang tagal? From 2021 to 2023. Sabi niyo kanina hindi niyo alam itong letter. To be honest that is as very convenient excuse," Gatchalian said.

(Based on records, the LGU’s next action was the 2023 inspection. So Mayor Capil why did it take so long? From 2021 to 2023. You said you don’t know the letter. To be honest that is a very convenient excuse.)

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