News Roundup 30 May 2023
May 30, 2023 • 5 min Read
Hontiveros says Pogos could be in cahoots with Pagcor in committing crimes | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday bared the possibility that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) involved in criminal activities have cohorts within the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
Hontiveros led the hearing of the Senate Committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality on human trafficking, where Pagcor claimed to inspect Pogo hubs in the country twice a week routinely.
Despite claims of regular inspection, Hontiveros said Pagcor failed to discover criminal activities linked to Pogos — specifically, the 1,090 individuals rescued during a police raid at the Colorful and Leap Group Company in Clark Sun Valley Hub, Pampanga.
“Meron talagang modus operandi nangyayari probably isang tipster sa loob ng Pagcor nagti-tip off sa kumpanya,” said Hontiveros in a press briefing.
(There really is a modus operandi going on, probably a tipster inside Pagcor tipping off the company.)
Once the tipster relays the information to the Pogo, they will be playing a Chinese song telling employees to hide and keep quiet.
Full Story at: Hontiveros says Pogos could be in cahoots with Pagcor in committing crimes | Inquirer News
Teves: I never said I was not in the Philippines | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Besieged Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, constantly evasive with his whereabouts, hinted at the possibility of being within the Philippines.
Teves’ suspension from the House of Representatives has made waves in the news as his prolonged, unauthorized absence has caused controversy. Despite House Speaker Martin Romualdez urging him to return to the Philippines and divulge his whereabouts, Teves remains elusive, refusing to attend House hearings in person.
When asked on CNN what would make him return to the Philippines, Teves said that he saw absolutely no reason to ever return to the Philippines.
“Ano karapatan nila pauwiin ako? But I never said I was not in the Philippines. Tingnan nila kung maprove nila na nasa Pilipinas pala ako, I am deemed absent. Yan pa, isa pang foul ng House, if not, the whole House, nag-ano ng attendance, bakit deemed absent ako, present na dapat ako,” said Teves.
(What are their rights to make me go home? But I never said I was not in the Philippines. Let them see if they can prove that I am in the Philippines. After all, I am deemed absent. That’s another foul of the House. If not, the whole House takes attendance. Why am I deemed absent? I should be present.)
Pressed for where he was exactly, Teves merely said: “secret.”
Full Story at: Teves: I never said I was not in the Philippines | Inquirer News
Last-ditch effort to delay Maharlika’s Senate approval fails | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The two-member Senate minority’s last-ditch attempt to stop the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund on its track towards approval failed Tuesday as their parliamentary maneuver was thwarted by the overwhelming vote of the majority.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the only members of the minority bloc in the upper chamber, were the lone dissenters to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s ruling against Pimentel’s motion to send back the Maharlika fund bill to the government corporations panel.
In contrast, 16 senators backed Zubiri’s ruling that the Senate had already tackled the matter, handily defeating Pimentel’s motion.
After delivering a nearly two-hour speech against the Maharlika fund bill, Pimentel moved to send back the measure to the government corporations panel, saying this was the committee that should have handled the proposal in the first place.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva objected to Pimentel’s motion. This was followed by a point of order from Sen. Francis Escudero who said the period to appeal the plenary referral of the Maharlika bill has passed.
But Pimentel insisted that he was not making an appeal, but a new motion, considering that the bill has been greatly changed since it was filed.
Full Story at: Last-ditch effort to delay Maharlika’s Senate approval fails | Philstar.com
Cops, soldiers sent to Lanao del Sur town after Dawlah Islamiya threatens attack | PHILSTAR.COM – MARAWI CITY, Philippines — The Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region has deployed personnel to strategic spots in Marogong town in Lanao del Sur, which the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya has threatened to attack.
Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr. told reporters Tuesday he is thankful to Police Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, director of PRO-BAR, for personally supervising Monday’s positioning of more police officers in Marogong. Thousands of residents have evacuated to other towns, fearing an attack by members of the DI terrorist group.
In an interview on Radyo Bangsamoro, Marogong disaster risk officer Ronaldin Damiano said at least 3,550 residents have gone to safer areas outside town, with some seeking shelter as far away as Iligan and Cotabato cities. He said classes are suspended and only around half of establishments are open as the town worries about a repeat of the Marawi Siege of 2017.
The outlawed Dawlah Islamiya, in text messages and Facebook posts last week, threatened to enter the town proper of Marogong last week following the the arrest of its members in a series of police operations in Lanao del Sur.
More than 20 Dawlah Islamiya members also fell in anti-narcotics operations in the province in recent months, now detained and are being prosecuted for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Nobleza said Tuesday a platoon from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and personnel of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Mobile Company are now positioned around the town proper of Marogong as part of their preparations for any Dawlah Islamiya incursion.
He said a company-size contingent from the Army’s 32nd Infanty Battalion had also been deployed in different barangays in the municipality.
Full Story at: Cops, soldiers sent to Lanao del Sur town after Dawlah Islamiya threatens attack | Philstar.com
