News Roundup 30 June 2024
Jun 30, 2024 • 5 min Read
Pagcor: Ex-Cabinet official lobbied for raided Pogos | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) said on Saturday that a former “high-ranking” Cabinet official had been lobbying for granting licenses to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) which have been recently raided.
Pagcor chief Alejandro Tengco said in a statement that he would reveal the identity of the former Cabinet official as well as the circumstances that led to the proliferation of illegal and criminal offshore gaming operations in the “proper forum.”
“We are also ready to reveal the roles of other controversial individuals behind these criminal Pogo enterprises,” Tengco said.
He also urged those investigating the suspicious activities of former licensed Pogos to further look into the role of “former officials and conduits” in granting licenses to Pogo applicants with “doubtful backgrounds.”
Tengco said illegal Pogos posed “serious threats to our people.”
The two prominent Pogos that were raided and closed this year were Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in Bamban, Tarlac, and Lucky South 99 Corp. in Porac, Pampanga.
Both Pogos are facing human trafficking cases. Zun Yuan was raided in March and Lucky South in early June.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), with support from the Philippine National Police, led the operations against the two Pogo companies.
Currently, there are only 43 licensed Pogos in the country, down from 298 licensed Pogos during the Duterte government, as the current administration continues to clamp down on criminal activities of illegal Pogos.
The ongoing crackdown on illegal Pogos followed reports of human trafficking, scams, torture and kidnapping associated with their operations.
Pagcor has not responded to the Inquirer’s requests for other details.
Full Story at: Pagcor: Ex-Cabinet official lobbied for raided Pogos (inquirer.net)
Dela Rosa’s refusal to attend drug war probe ‘a cowardly act’ – Castro | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s decision to skip the House of Representatives probe into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war is “a cowardly act” and “an attempt to evade accountability,” a lawmaker said on Sunday.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said this after Dela Rosa, the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during the Duterte administration, said he would only face the allegations against him and the former chief executive in the proper forum.
“Senator Dela Rosa should not hide behind inter-parliamentary courtesy as an excuse. The truth is, he is afraid to face the victims of the bloody drug war that he and former President Duterte orchestrated,” Castro said in a statement.
She also pointed out Dela Rosa’s “inconsistent stance” as he invited Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel to a Senate hearing.
“Why the double standard now?” she asked.
Full Story at: Dela Rosa’s refusal to attend drug war probe ‘a cowardly act’ – Castro (inquirer.net)
2 fishermen hurt after boat explosion near Bajo de Masinloc | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:07 p.m.) — Two Filipino fishermen were injured after their fishing boat’s engine blew up near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) on Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
According to the PCG, the boat sank at 3 p.m. on Saturday after its engine exploded.
PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo stated that they carried out rescue operations and provided medical care to the injured fishers.
The agency also said that there were two Chinese vessels seen during the incident.
PCG has yet to respond to Philstar.com’s request for further information and comment regarding the incident.
Full Story at: 2 fishermen hurt after boat explosion near Bajo de Masinloc | Philstar.com
De Lima readying counter-charges vs persecutors | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Leila de Lima is preparing to file counter-charges against those who “politically persecuted” her during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
In a dwIZ interview yesterday, De Lima said her legal team is mulling to countersue Duterte and the latter’s justice secretary, Vitaliano Aguirre II, as she accused them of filing trumped up illegal drug charges against her.
She said Duterte has an axe to grind against her because she – when she was human rights commission chair – investigated the killings by the alleged Davao Death Squad when Duterte was mayor of the city.
“I am doing this for justice and vindication, not to seek revenge. It is not a matter of vengefulness. It is my right to seek justice for the wrongs they committed against me,” De Lima said.
“They smeared my reputation. I was detained and deprived of my liberty for almost seven years. I was not able to fully perform my mandate as senator. It is clear that the charges were upon Duterte’s orders while Aguirre was his chief enforcer to persecute me,” she added.
De Lima, however, remains noncommittal on calls for her to run again for the Senate after her failed 2022 reelection bid, to counter the candidacies of three Dutertes in the midterm elections – the former president and his two sons, Davao congressman Paolo and mayor Sebastian.
“What I can say is I have no decision as of now. I am giving it serious thought and deep reflection. I will not just go back to the world of politics after everything I went through,” she said.
De Lima said she would focus on helping the victims of extrajudicial killings in the drug war that Duterte conducted when he was president.
Full Story at: De Lima readying counter-charges vs persecutors | Philstar.com
