Julia Christine Botin

Pasay City mayor slams PAOCC spox over 'criminal liability' remark after POGO raid

Article (news)

Jeff Caparas

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><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/174003619841920190729-emy-calixto-rubiano-mmda-GC-0709.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano speaks during a meeting with mayors at the Metro Manila Development Authority on July 25, 2019. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The mayor of Pasay City on Thursday condemned the &quot;irresponsible&quot; statement of Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio, who said that a probe is underway into the &quot;possible criminal liability&quot; of LGU officials where illegal POGOs are being discovered.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/19/paocc-probes-pasay-lapu-lapu-officials-as-pogo-clean-up-continues-1605">PAOCC probes Pasay, Lapu-lapu officials as POGO clean-up continues</a></div><p>On Wednesday, PAOCC said it is looking into the &quot;possible criminal liability&quot; of local government officials from Pasay and Lapu-lapu City after the agency raided illegal POGO in the two areas earlier this year.</p><p>Mayor Imelda &quot;Emi&quot; Calixto-Rubiano said Casio&#x27;s statements &quot;unfairly tarnish the reputation of city officials.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Pasay City has a zero-tolerance policy towards POGO operations, regardless of whether they are disguised, temporary, or operated as dummy entities. POGOs are not allowed in our city. This is not just a symbolic gesture; it reflects our commitment to eliminating POGO operations in our city,&quot; she said.</p><p>On Monday, several South Korean workers were found hiding in the basement of the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City, where an underground scam center was allegedly operating.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/17/pogo-nadiskubreng-nag-ooperate-sa-basement-ng-isang-hotel-sa-pasay-1837">POGO nadiskubreng nag-ooperate sa basement ng isang hotel sa Pasay</a></div><p>Most of the raided POGOs in Metro Manila were located in the southern part of the capital region, namely in Makati, Pasay and Parañaque, according to PAOCC.</p><p>But Calixto said that they have strict zero-tolerance policy against POGO.</p><p>“No business permits have been issued to any POGO and the recently raided POGO facilities were operating discreetly and in concealed locations. These facilities do not operate under any business license issued by Pasay City,” she said.</p><p>The PAOCC earlier filed criminal and civil cases against former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and other officials linked to operations of the mega POGO compound in the sleepy agricultural town. </p><p>Porac Mayor Jing Capil and 10 other officials from Pampanga are also facing graft charges for their supposed ties to illegal gambling operations.</p><p>As of February 14, 12 cases have been filed against POGO personalities, while 8 other cases are undergoing preliminary investigation, based on data from the PAOCC.</p><p>The agency said it is preparing 13 other cases linked to illegal gambling operations in the Philippines.</p><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/I2K5hrzHKlE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio's statements "unfairly tarnish the reputation of city officials."</p>

Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio's statements "unfairly tarnish the reputation of city officials."