Nanay says PAGCOR fails to communicate Porac POGO
ANGELES CITY – Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia Pineda pulled to pieces the issues surrounding the Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Incorporated in a five-hour long committee hearing presided over by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Friday, June 21.
The raid, which uncovered links to serious issues including fraud and human trafficking, served as a stark “wake-up call,” according to Pineda.
Pineda highlighted the consequences of insufficient coordination and communication between Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), local government units (LGUs), and other relevant agencies.
“Palagay ko itong hearing na ito, maging wake up call sa inyo, PAGCOR. Sa tingin ko may mga lapses kayo. Kulang kayo sa coordination. Yung mga agencies na dapat niyong ka-partner na-disregard niyo eh. Kulang kayo ng coordination kaya ang nangyayari ngayon turuan,” Pineda said.
“Kayo PAGCOR, dapat binriefing niyo ang LGU. Yung damage namin done na. Wala na tayong magagawa don. Aminin mo may lapses kayo, di ba? Ang hinihingi lang sa LGU, no objection. Dapat hindi lang yun ang hinihingi,” she added.
During the hearing, key discrepancies emerged including conflicting reports on the number of employees and exorbitant utility bills amounting to P12 million monthly. The POGO site also faced internet service disruption after the raid.
Jessa Fernandez, PAGCOR’s assistant vice president for compliance, clarified that POGO licenses are strictly tied to specific sites for monitoring purposes, such as the Thai Court building where Lucky South 99 operated.
“In 2019, when the license was issued, it was specifically for Thai Court. The license is tied to this particular building, as it was the only structure existing at the time. Lucky South 99 did not apply for additional buildings within the compound,” Fernandez said.
In a separate session presided by the Sangguniang Bayan of Porac revealed that Lucky South 99 had never commenced operations despite holding a license.
Joseph Lobo, head of PAGCOR’s compliance unit, disclosed that non-operational POGOs are still liable for substantial fees.
The outcomes of the hearings are anticipated to drive amendments to PAGCOR’s regulatory framework, aiming to align national mandates with local governance requirements more effectively.
As Pampanga grapples with the fallout from POGO activities, Vice Governor Pineda’s calls for enhanced coordination serve as a stark reminder of the need for rigorous oversight in the gaming sector.