The head of Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR said he will soon identify a "former senior government official" who allegedly helped obtain gaming licenses for some illegal POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) that were recently raided for illegal activities.
In a previous statement, Alejandro Tenco defended the agency’s performance during his two years at the helm, noting that the number of offshore gaming licenses had fallen from a peak of 298 to just 43.
Tenko claimed that investigators should consider the role of former officials in approving licenses from POGO applicants with questionable backgrounds.
He promised to reveal the name of a former cabinet member who he claimed promoted illegal POGOs and events that led to the growth of illegal offshore gambling operations.
“As a regulator, it is our responsibility to ensure that any form of gambling and gaming activities, whether it is a physical casino or an online platform, are operated by legal licensees,” Tenko said.
He stressed that it was in the best interest of the government to crack down on illegal operators, especially Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and their supporters, as their criminal activities posed a significant threat to the public.
Regarding the number of licenses, Tenko added: "We need to question how these 298 POGO licensees obtained their licenses because during our rectification process we found that most of them were unqualified and completely suspicious."
"We are also prepared to expose other controversial figures involved in these illegal POGO activities."
Tengko's comments dovetail with the ongoing investigation into suspended Bamban mayor Alice Guo, who was recently identified as Chinese national Guo Huaping.
