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Porac POGO hub had no respect for government rules, Pampanga vice gov says

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ABS-CBN News

<p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">MANILA — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga is looking into lapses by the Porac local government as well as utilities companies for the operation of the Lucky South 99 POGO hub despite the raided compound lacking a business permit and other legal requirements.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Speaking to Teleradyo Serbisyo, Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia Pineda said the provincial board hopes to wrap up its hearings by Friday.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">She said findings can be combined with those of law enforcement agencies that are still searching through the 10-hectare complex where torture, human trafficking as well as scamming are believed to have been done.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/6/9/another-raid-at-porac-pogo-hub-cash-jewelry-suspected-drugs-seized-1129">READ: Another raid at Porac POGO hub: Cash, jewelry, suspected drugs seized</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p>“Para silang pumasok na wala silang pakialam, walang respeto sa gobyerno (It’s like they came in without regard for, without respect for government),” Pineda, a former provincial governor, said of Lucky South 99, which she said lacked a business license, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator license as well as building and electrical permits.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Wala lahat sila (They did not have any of those). Zero,” she said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Pineda said she also wants to have the compound’s power and internet providers explain how the firm got service despite lacking documents.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“‘Yung dawala na lang na ‘yun eh. Kung nagtingin lang sila — meron ‘yang teamwork — hindi yan makakapag-operate,” Pineda said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(Even just those two. If they had checked with municipal hall, the POGO hub would not have been able to operate.)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><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">RELATED: Document with Roque&#x27;s signature found in Porac POGO hub &#x27;has no criminal value&#x27;: PAOCC</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p>Pineda said Lucky South 99 began operating in 2019, which could explain the lack of on-site inspection during the pandemic lockdowns, but that that is no excuse.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Madali naman makita ‘yan, hindi naman nakatago,” she said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(You can’t miss it. It isn’t hidden away.)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NtDOPy_D00U" title="Pampanga LGU probes possible lapses, violations of raided Porac POGO hub | Kabayan (17 June 2024)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Porac Mayor Jing Capil has condemned the alleged illegal activity at the POGO hub and has also said the company had barred an inspection team from entering the compound.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/10/porac-pogo-had-no-license-to-operate-based-on-pagcor-doc-1902">READ: Porac POGO had no license to operate, based on PAGCOR doc</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Pineda added that she is seeking input from the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Social Security System and Pag-IBIG Fund on whether the company remitted mandatory contributions from its workers.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">She said that the findings into the administrative and criminal liabilities over Lucky South 99’s operations will likely lead to the total closure for the compound.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Hindi na talaga siya makaka-apak sa — hindi lang sa Pampanga — sa buong Pilipinas,” she said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(They will not be allowed anywhere in Pampanga or in the entire Philippines.)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><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/AmqlNQ6pAhE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Speaking to Teleradyo Serbisyo, Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia Pineda said the provincial board hopes to wrap up its hearings by Friday.</p>

Speaking to Teleradyo Serbisyo, Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia Pineda said the provincial board hopes to wrap up its hearings by Friday.