‘Unified govt strategy against POGOs needed’

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SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday urged concerned law enforcement agencies and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation “to sit down and craft a consolidated approach” on the government’s campaign against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Gatchalian said the PNP, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and other concerned agencies should get their acts together after the PAOCC said that the raid conducted by the police on a POGO hub in Ermita, Manila last Saturday was not coordinated with the commission.

“The absence of unity and coordination among all concerned agencies could potentially weaken our campaign and enable POGOs to exploit gaps and continue their operations,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

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Gatchalian was referring to the raid conducted by the PNP, with support from other concerned agencies, on a POGO hub in Ermita, Manila.

The 69 foreigners who were apprehended during the raid have been released as operatives allegedly failed to establish any legal hold on them.

The PAOCC, in a statement last Saturday, said it was neither consulted nor informed of the operation.

Gatchalian said a “unified approach” against POGOs should be in place.

“Our advocacy to eliminate all illegal activities emanating from POGOs would be more efficient and effective if we adopt a unified approach. Huwag nating hayaan magpatuloy ang masasamang Gawain ng mga POGO sa ating mga komunidad dahil lamang sa kakulangan ng koordinasyon

(Our advocacy to eliminate all illegal activities emanating from POGOs would be more efficient and effective if we adopt a unified approach. We must not allow the evils of POGOs to thrive just because of the lack of coordination among law enforcement agencies),” he said.

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