News Roundup 12 June 2024
Jun 12, 2024 • 5 min Read
Syndicates pretending as POGOs pose national security threat — Teodoro | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Criminal syndicates posing as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) must be stopped as they pose national security concerns, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Wednesday.
Teodoro made the remarks a day after the Philippine Navy said that it does not yet consider POGOs as a threat to the country’s national security.
“The concern is that we should stop these syndicated criminal activities operating out of our base, which weaken our financial standing, our country ratings, (and) corrupt our society,” Teodoro said, according to a press release from the Department of National Defense (DND).
Teodoro explained that while some POGOs operate legitimately as business process outsourcing establishments, there are differences between these and illegal operators.
“For example, there are legitimate POGOs where the bets and the payoffs are taken from other countries (such as) horse racing in Europe, (and) sports betting; only the matching of bets and payouts are done here but the bets originate (from) outside (the country),” he said.
(For example, there are legitimate POGOs where the bets and payoffs are sourced from other countries, such as horse racing in Europe and sports betting. Only the matching of bets and payouts is done here, while the bets originate from outside the country.)
“Yung POGO na alam natin (dito sa Pilipinas) na operated to evade the ban on gambling in China, the bets originate here. So, may diperensya,” he added.
(The POGO we are familiar with here in the Philippines operates to evade the ban on gambling in China, with the bets originating locally. So, there is that difference.)
The DND noted that authorities are currently analyzing evidence gathered from POGO activities and the recent raids conducted in Tarlac and Pampanga.
Full Story at: Syndicates pretending as POGOs pose national security threat — Teodoro | Philstar.com
AFP urged to defend Filipino fishermen from Chinese arrests | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A senior administration lawmaker said the Armed Forces of the Philippines should make good its promise to protect Filipino fishermen from getting detained by Chinese enforcing Beijing’s regulation against “trespassers.”
“We are taking the military at its word that our fishermen have nothing to worry about because the AFP has their back and will provide protection to them against possible harassment from the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea,” Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said.
He said it would be best if the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources can establish stronger presence in the WPS for the protection of fisherfolk.
Villafuerte also voiced support for the plan of the Department of Justice, in tandem with the Office of the Solicitor General, to sue Beijing for the environmental damage its island-building activities had inflicted on marine environment in the West Philippine Sea.
“The opening of another legal front to protest China’s incursions into Philippine waters is certainly most welcome as part of the Marcos administration’s commitment to exhaust all means to bring to global attention – and generate broad international condemnation of – the nonstop bullying tactics of China in waters that are legally part of our maritime territory, as declared under the 1994 UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) and upheld by the 2016 arbitral ruling of the PCA (Permanent Court of Arbitration) in The Hague,” he said.
Full Story at: AFP urged to defend Filipino fishermen from Chinese arrests | Philstar.com
PCG holds flag rites in West Philippine Sea amid Chinese presence | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard held a flag-raising ceremony in the West Philippine Sea to commemorate the country’s Independence Day, notwithstanding the presence of Chinese militia ships there.
According to PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, personnel aboard the BRP Teresa Magbanua conducted the rites off Escoda (Sabina) Shoal at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Balilo said 12 Chinese maritime militia ships were spotted near the shoal while the ceremony was being conducted.
The PCG deployed BRP Teresa Magbanua last April 16 amid suspected reclamation in the shoal, which falls 75 nautical miles from the coast of Palawan or well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Full Story at: PCG holds flag rites in West Philippine Sea amid Chinese presence | INQUIRER.net
Senators urge Filipinos to defend PH sovereignty | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Several senators on Wednesday, the 126th anniversary of Philippine Independence, pondered on the essence of freedom and how Filipinos should continue to defend it amid continued foreign aggression in Philippine territory.
Senate President Francis Escudero urged Filipinos to “take to heart” the spirit of freedom and use it to guide the path of change.
“Ang tema ngayong taon, Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan ay nagpapaalala sa ating lahat ng kahalagahan ng ating nakaraan at ang papel nito sa paghubog ng ating kinabukasan,” said Escudero in a statement.
(This year’s theme is Freedom. Future. History. It reminds us of the importance of our past and its role in shaping our future.)
“Ang kalayaan na ating tinatamasa ngayon ay bunga ng mga sakripisyo at katapangan ng ating mga bayani. Nawa’y magsilbi itong inspirasyon sa atin upang patuloy na magsumikap para sa isang mas magandang bukas,” he added.
(The freedom we are enjoying right now is a result of the sacrifices and bravery of our heroes. May this serve as an inspiration for us to strive harder for a better future.)
Full Story at: Senators urge Filipinos to defend PH sovereignty (inquirer.net)
