MANILA – Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) are not yet being considered a threat to national security despite the consecutive raids against them recently.
According to Philippine Navy (PN) Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, it is not yet appropriate to tag POGOs an area of concern.
“We haven’’t yet reached that point. The moment we get there, there will be appropriate announcements to be made,” Trinidad said in a media briefing of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“The moment they violate, not only the POGOs, but the moment any establishment violates the rules and regulations of the land, there will be appropriate sanctions that the government may impose upon them,” he added.
Trinidad made the statement in light of Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ appeal for the National Security Council (NSC) to recommend to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that POGOs be considered a national threat.
Hontiveros’ concern came after authorities recently discovered alleged uniforms of the Chinese military in the premises of the raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga over the weekend.
One of the seized digital camouflage uniforms has buttons with the initials of “P.L.A.”, which authorities suspect may stand for the People’s Liberation Army, the armed organization of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the principal military force of the People’s Republic of China.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, downplayed the presence of military uniforms, saying that it is possible that those were only used as props by POGO workers in their illicit online transactions.
“The limited number of PLA (People’s Liberation Army) uniforms found suggests they are more indicative of use in deceptive activities rather than any preparation for an invasion,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Padilla said./PN
