Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 29) — Justice Secretary Crispin “Boying” Remulla has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to stop operations against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) after reports of alleged arrest and extortion activity.
“I asked NBI OIC (officer-in-charge Menardo) De Lemos to stop everybody from operating on POGOs because we’re getting a very bad reputation about it,” Remulla told reporters on Thursday.
The arrest and extortion activity is “described simply as huli-dap,” Remulla said. “It cannot happen anymore. It has to stop.”
Apart from this, the Department of Justice (DOJ) chief bared that there are also a lot of kidnapping cases involving the POGO industry.
“They kidnap each other. In the end, they will sue each other at the DOJ and they’ll just settle with each other. So, we’re wasting our time,” he explained. “And then nai-involve lang kami sa intramurals ng nangyayari sa kanila [We will then be involved in the intramurals that are happening to them] so we have to stop it.”
Remulla added that the DOJ will only act if there’s a police matter but added that they will not do so for now.
POGOs are online gambling companies that serve customers from outside the country and mostly employ Chinese workers. They have been controversial for alleged tax liabilities and crimes such as money laundering scheme, illegal drug trade, and sex trafficking.
CNN Philippines’ correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
