SENATOR Risa Hontiveros salutes to the authorities who raided POGO alleged illegal operations in Pampanga.
“Nagpupugay ako sa Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) sa kanilang pagpupursige sa pag-raid ng mga iligal na POGO. Napakarami pa naming nakukuhang reports kung saan naghahasik ng lagim ang mga POGO. Tiwala ako na mare-raid at mahuhuli din ang mga nasa likod nito. Dahil sa mga raid, nailalantad ang mga paulit-ulit at karumal-dumal na krimen na dala ng POGO, tulad ng scamming, torture, at human trafficking na natagpuan dito sa Pampanga.”
Indeed, wherever there is POGO, there is crime.
It is unfortunate, however, that there seemed to be a leak prior to the operation.
May mga Chinese umano na pinatakas bago pa makarating ang PAOCC sa lugar. We will get to the bottom of who is accountable. Sinumang nakikipagsabwatan sa mga sindikatong Chinese ay mananagot. Our Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality will ensure that victim-survivors of abuse and exploitation will get the justice they deserve.
Meanwhile, Hontiverus brushed aside allegation that she’s with hunting in connection with the investigation of Bamban town mayor Alice Guo.
This is not an attack on Filipinos of Chinese heritage. My own maternal great-grandmother was pure Chinese.
The revelations about Mayor Alice Guo came out after evidence of her complicity in POGO-related crimes.
At ang ibang ebidensya galing mismo sa kanyang mga salita. Marami nang ebidensya ang nalikom laban sa mga POGO sa huling walong hearing ng aking komite.
Among these is the proliferation of fake identification documents from PhilHealth IDs to passports. This just shows how Chinese POGO syndicates have managed to obtain fraudulent Filipino identities through corrupt individuals in our government agencies.
At ang Malala kay Mayor Guo, she is a public servant. Huwag din nating kalimutan na ang POGO sa munisipalidad ni Mayor ay may ‘di umanong hacking at surveillance activities.
Considering China’s aggressive influence operations around the world, it would be remiss of the Senate not to look into this angle.
Marami pang gustong ibunyag ang ilang government agencies tungkol sa POGOs, na kanilang gagawin sa executive session bago ang susunod na public hearing. Sa gitna ng lahat ng ito, inuulit ko ang paalala ko na hindi kailanman magiging katanggap-tanggap ang racism, xenophobia at Sinophobia.
Regardless of our heritage, all law-abiding citizens should not be the subject of hate and discrimination. This is not a witch hunt. This is not about politics. This is about national security, criminal activities, accountability in public service, the rights and welfare of women and children, and the structural failure of our system to regulate POGO as a business model. (PR)
