After 19 months and 15 hearings, the Philippine Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality announced that the investigation into crimes and violations by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) is nearing its conclusion.
Committee Chair and Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros announced that the final hearing is scheduled for November 26. At this hearing, the committee will review new evidence regarding the alleged use of the POGO platform by "Chinese parties" for espionage activities in the Philippines and will propose legislative reforms to address policy loopholes.
The recommendations aim to curb criminal activities related to POGO, including strengthening the regulation of birth certificate applications to prevent cases like that of Alice Guo.
The committee also plans to suggest measures for the government to assist victims and unemployed workers affected by POGO, and to prevent the illegal use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, such as the alleged misuse at a POGO site in Barangay Balac in Porac, Pampanga.
Hontiveros confirmed that Alice Guo will be summoned to attend the last hearing.
Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee approved a budget adjustment to allocate more resources to women and children's protection and public health projects.
Specifically, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) will receive an additional 84.9 million pesos to combat human trafficking, POGO-related fraud, and other transnational crimes targeting the Filipino people.
This series of actions marks the nearing end of the Senate's investigation into POGO issues, while laying a policy foundation to address related social problems.
