Forfeited POGO hubs could be used by gov’t – PAOCC

By Marita Moaje, Philippine News Agency

He said at least five raided POGO hubs, including the seized vehicles, are currently under civil and criminal forfeiture in favor of the government. (File photo: Keenan Constance/Unsplash)

MANILA – Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said Friday that seized and forfeited buildings used by illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) could be used by government agencies after the filing of civil forfeiture cases.

“Puwedeng-puwede iyon. Itong mga nakuha natin, let’s say sa Bamban, ang ganda noon. Ang ganda, sobra (That’s possible. The ones we got, let’s say in Bamban, were beautiful.

It’s very beautiful),” Cruz said in the Bagong Pilipinas pre-SONA interview, referring to the raided POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac

He said at least five raided POGO hubs, including the seized vehicles, are currently under civil and criminal forfeiture in favor of the government.

“Iyong isang pinorfeit (forfeit) natin sa Pasay, ginagamit na ng DSWD for… iyong mga rescued victims doon nila hina-house (The one under civil forfeiture in Pasay is being used by the Department of Social Welfare and Development for rescued victims),” Cruz said.

“Tapos ginawa na rin nating kulungan iyan ng mga nahuhuli natin sa POGO kasi kulang ang Bureau of Immigration sa kulungan eh. So sabi ko, i-improvise natin itong 6th floor, gawin nating kulungan. So iyong mga huli natin, nandoon nakakulong ngayon (We turned one into a jail for those apprehended from POGOs. The Bureau of Immigration lacks jails, so, I said, let’s improvise this 6th floor, let’s turn it into a jail.

Those arrested were detained there).”

Civil and criminal forfeiture falls under Republic Act 1379 or “An act declaring forfeiture in favor of the state any property found to have been unlawfully acquired by any public officer or employee and providing for the proceedings therefor.”

Cruz said the raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga could be turned into a school.

“Kung makikita mo iyan, may mga boarding house iyan. So, kung ano puwede mong itira diyan, iyong mga estudyante (If you see them, these buildings have boarding houses that could be used by students),” he said.

Cruz said there were at least 448 POGOs across the country during the previous administration but only 46 have renewed their licenses with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).

“Actually, 402 pa iyong hahabulin natin na mga illegal POGOs (We are running after 402 illegal POGOs),” he said.

Cruz said illegal POGOs use their license to operate as a front, showing it to authorities during inspection operations but actually engage in scamming and other illicit activities.

He said 10 of the 12 POGO hubs that the PAOCC recently raided had foreign workers who are fugitives.