What's stopping NSC from classifying POGOs as 'national security threat' | ABS-CBN
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What's stopping NSC from classifying POGOs as 'national security threat'
What's stopping NSC from classifying POGOs as 'national security threat'
An area in the Porac, Pampanga POGO hub after it was raided by authorities. Office of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian
An area in the Porac, Pampanga POGO hub after it was raided by authorities. Office of Sen. Sherwin GatchalianMANILA — What would it take for the Philippines' security officials to finally classify Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as a national security threat?
MANILA — What would it take for the Philippines' security officials to finally classify Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as a national security threat?
This was the question of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to the National Security Council (NSC), which believes that the harms brought by POGOs have yet to reach the level of danger required for such escalation.
This was the question of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to the National Security Council (NSC), which believes that the harms brought by POGOs have yet to reach the level of danger required for such escalation.
"If we look at national security, we look at some elements like territorial integrity, sovereignty, social cohesiveness, political stability, and at this point in time we do not see that happening [with POGOs]," NSC Assistant Director General Jude Lauengco told a Senate panel on Tuesday.
"If we look at national security, we look at some elements like territorial integrity, sovereignty, social cohesiveness, political stability, and at this point in time we do not see that happening [with POGOs]," NSC Assistant Director General Jude Lauengco told a Senate panel on Tuesday.
The NSC is the principal advisory body tasked with coordination and integration of plans and policies affecting national security.
The NSC is the principal advisory body tasked with coordination and integration of plans and policies affecting national security.
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Senators have been urging the body to elevate the POGO issue to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Senators have been urging the body to elevate the POGO issue to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Lauengco said that at this point, POGOs were only a "very serious national concern."
Lauengco said that at this point, POGOs were only a "very serious national concern."
"We have seen the extent of criminal activities conducted in some POGO facilities... which to us has become a very serious national concern that is now being addressed by appropriate law enforcing agencies," he said.
"We have seen the extent of criminal activities conducted in some POGO facilities... which to us has become a very serious national concern that is now being addressed by appropriate law enforcing agencies," he said.
But Gatchalian argued that the crimes linked to POGOs, such as human trafficking, prostitution, among others, were enough to warrant a more serious classification from the NSC.
But Gatchalian argued that the crimes linked to POGOs, such as human trafficking, prostitution, among others, were enough to warrant a more serious classification from the NSC.
"For me all the fingerprints of a national security threat is already there... All the red flags... In my opionion, we should not wait for the detonation of a bigger scenario... Ano pang hinihintay natin?" Gatchalian said.
"For me all the fingerprints of a national security threat is already there... All the red flags... In my opionion, we should not wait for the detonation of a bigger scenario... Ano pang hinihintay natin?" Gatchalian said.
For Lauengco, the POGO issue "is handled pretty well," adding "we are satisfied by how this is handled by law enforcement and regulatory agencies."
Last June, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said that the existence of POGO sites in the country did not yet constitute a “national security threat” that would "necessitate the direct involvement of the defense forces."
Last June, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said that the existence of POGO sites in the country did not yet constitute a “national security threat” that would "necessitate the direct involvement of the defense forces."
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