Philippines: More sanctions against POGOs from PAGCOR
Harry Roque named as legal counsel, and Senate assured of POGO hubs ban.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has stated that Philippines offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) hubs will not be allowed to operate anymore.
The statement was made by PAGCOR chief Alejandro Tengco in reply to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s request for affirmation that POGO-related criminal activities will not happen again.
“We’re coming out with certain guidelines. We’re already banning hubs,” the PAGCOR Chief said.
“In the meantime, there is no order for closure, this early I can inform everybody that we will not allow any hub existing or going to be applied for. We will not approve it anymore because we want to be site-specific and building-specific,” Tengco concluded.
Tengco has also named former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque as the raided illegal POGO, Lucky South 99’s legal counsel.
Tengco claimed that Roque was with Cassandra Lee Ong of Lucky South 99 when they visited the regulatory body, seeking to settle the license and unpaid arrears of the firm.
Atty. Jessa Fernandez of PAGCOR also confirmed Tengco’s statement, saying that Roque had visited her office six times, enquiring about documentation details related to license granting for the POGO.
Roque, however, denied the accusations.
“As clearly stated by PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco in today’s Senate hearing, I requested a rescheduling of arrears payment of a lessee and principal of my client Whirlwind Corporation. My client is a service provider to Lucky South, then a holder of a valid license from PAGCOR,” he added.
Earlier, PAGCOR had revealed that “a former ‘high-ranking’ Cabinet official” had been lobbying for the granting of licences to the recently arrested illegal POGOs.
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