Latest news with #Pogos
South China Morning Post
11-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
No more Alice Guos? Philippine lawmaker seeks new law against fake citizenship
A new bill that seeks to establish a new civil registration system in the Philippines in a bid to prevent 'more Alice Guos' is a step in the right direction, but may not be adequate to address the country's deep-seated patronage politics and bribery, observers warn. Filed by Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the bill proposes to create a new civil registration and vital statistics system that aims to prevent foreigners from acquiring Philippine citizenship through fraudulent means, such as through fake birth certificates. The system would be designed to 'accurately establish an individual's identity for both administrative and legal purposes'. Gatchalian identified the bill as priority legislation for the new Congress, which began this month. His proposal came just weeks after a Philippine court ruled that Alice Guo, a former mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac province at the centre of the controversy surrounding the notorious Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), was a Chinese citizen. 'We want a new system so that no more Alice Guos would emerge, those pretending to be Filipinos and would infiltrate the government to deceive,' Gatchalian said in a statement on Tuesday. The bill, filed on Monday, also proposes 'higher penalties' for offences such as the forgery of civil registry documents, submission of false information during civil registration, and easing the preparation of civil registry documents that contain fraudulent information.
Filipino Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Ejercito urges tighter rules on online gambling, citing greater threat than POGOS
Senator JV Ejercito has raised alarms over the increasing risks posed by online gambling, urging the government to implement stricter regulations. According to him, the danger now surpasses that of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos). Ejercito highlighted the ease of access to gambling apps, which are often disguised as entertainment or gaming platforms, making them easily accessible even to minors. 'Anyone can start gambling with just a single click,' he pointed out. He expressed concern about the social consequences of online gambling, including broken families, growing debt, and mental health struggles—especially among young people. The senator also suggested banning e-wallet services that facilitate online betting, saying these platforms make it easier for people to engage in gambling. Unlike Pogos, which largely affect foreigners, Ejercito said online gambling is harming Filipinos directly—workers, parents, and youth—leading to what he calls a gradual decline in society.
The Star
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Philippine Bureau of Investigations employees report boss to Marcos
MANILA: Employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have accused Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado of corruption and misconduct in handling cases involving the now-banned Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) and the deportation of illegal foreign workers. In a letter dated June 2 addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and received by Malacañang, the employees, who chose to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, raised a number of pressing issues that, 'if left unaddressed could lead to significant corruption problem, potentially tarnishing the image of the administration.' The letter obtained by the Inquirer said Viado had abused his authority, 'shamelessly establishing a special agenda to expedite the bail release of foreign nationals involved in the notorious operations of Pogos.' The employees said he had issued a release order on behalf of three 'influential bosses' behind the raided Pogo hub at the RiRance Building in Tambo, Parañaque City. They identified these bosses as Wang Qixin, Chen Jiangsong and Luo Shangfen. They claimed further that Viado recently stopped the transfer of 39 foreign nationals caught illegally working at Udenna Tower in Taguig City. 'In a shocking twist, rather than adhering to protocol and sending these individuals to the Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility (BIWF), he brazenly ordered them to be confined in the Bureau's own conference room, a move that has left many questioning his motives and integrity,' the employees said. Lawyer Gilbert Repizo, chair of the BI's Board of Special Inquiry, had also questioned the 'special treatment' given to these foreign nationals despite a commitment order to have them turned over to the facility. 'Where will be deterrence and fear of laws if there will be special accommodation?' Repizo said in a public Facebook post. He said he had also written a letter dated June 2 to Fortunato Manahan, chief of the BI's intelligence division, regarding that matter. The employees said these individuals could soon be allowed to post bail. They also accused Viado of negotiating the release of 114 foreign workers of notorious Pogo company Asian Gaming Technology, following their arrest on March 19 by agents of the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission. 'While it's understood that some deportation cases for Pogo foreign nationals might be dismissed based on merit, it is outrageous that all apprehended workers were released on the direct orders of the BI Commissioner,' the employees said. They said this 'brazen move not only flouts the outright ban on Pogos… but also raises serious questions about corruption and collusion within our Bureau.' According to the employees, quota visas—which grant permanent residency to a specified number of foreign nationals—were also auctioned off, going to the highest bidders under Viado's leadership. They noted that this issue was briefly raised at a Senate hearing on March 18. The BI's Board of Commissioners has the sole authority to issue these 'priced visas,' the employees said. In a letter to Viado dated May 28, Repizo affirmed the price of a quota visa for Chinese nationals—P5 million (US$89,558) compared with only P500,000 for Europeans. Meanwhile foreign embassies, including those of China and Vietnam, have expressed alarm over the treatment of their deported nationals, according to the BI employees. They cited instances of Chinese nationals stranded in Macau and unable to reach Shanghai, their intended destination. The employees also cited a report by the Vietnamese Embassy about an incident involving ten of its nationals who were placed on a direct flight to Phnom Penh on Feb. 25 without any prior notification. If not for the intervention of Cambodian authorities, these individuals could have ended up as victims of scam operations in Phnom Penh, the employees said. 'These unfortunate individuals,' they said, 'are facing nightmarish struggles to reach their intended destinations, highlighting the severe implications of this outrageous situation.' 'This alarming scenario implies that human trafficking is being facilitated by the Bureau of Immigration itself,' the employees said. They cited further Viado's 'deplorable work ethic,' claiming that he usually arrived around lunchtime at the earliest unlike his predecessor who was already at the bureau by 6 a.m. They said Viado also convenes the Board of Commissioners only once a month, a departure from the previous norm of at least three meetings per month. 'This blatant lack of commitment has led to a significant backlog of the Board's work, exacerbating an already troubling situation,' they said. They also claimed Viado joined a meeting on May 2 by the BI's Bids and Awards Committee regarding the bureau's e-gates project. As head of the agency's Procurement Entity, he ignored explicit prohibitions against attending the committee's meetings—a safeguard to shield crucial projects from undue influence, the employees said. They said a thorough investigation into all transactions carried out by the Office of the Commissioner on Viado's watch would 'undoubtedly uncover more alarming issues.' 'Regrettably, under the current leadership of the Department of Justice, our confidence in holding him accountable for his actions is waning, especially considering his close ties as a fraternity brother [of the] current DOJ leaders,' they said further. 'While our complaint may not result in immediate change, we remain resolute in our commitment to serving the Bureau of Immigration and will tirelessly work to address and eliminate corrupt practices within our agency,' the employees said. Viado was sought for comment but had yet to respond as of this writing. BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval, who was also reached for comment, said in a statement to the Inquirer: 'We have yet to verify the authenticity of a document circulating online containing baseless allegations against the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration.' She did not say if her statement referred to the letter. 'The Bureau remains open to legitimate investigation and is fully committed to upholding transparency, accountability and integrity in all its operations and leadership,' Sandoval said. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
South China Morning Post
14-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Philippines election hopeful's LGBTQ woes spark debate on voter focus
A senatorial candidate touted as an opposition bet in the Philippines ' coming midterm elections has faced widespread criticism among progressive voters for her conservative stance on same-sex marriage. Advertisement The controversy surrounding Heidi Mendoza, a former United Nations undersecretary general and ex-state auditor, has sparked discourse on the issues that voters should prioritise to increase headway for independent candidates. Mendoza is not among the top 12 candidates in pre-election surveys, yet she gained traction among progressive voters for her platform on anti-corruption and as a viable opposition choice in tipping the balance in the country's legislative branch. Out of 24 senators, only two belong to its minority bloc, including opposition senator Risa Hontiveros, who has led Senate inquiries on crimes linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) . There will be 12 Senate seats up for grabs in the coming polls. The Philippines ranked 114th out of 180 countries in Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perception Index, with named the country as among the region's 'significant decliners' in 2021 and 2022. Heidi Mendoza pictured with then-UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon (right) in 2015, when she was sworn in as the United Nations' undersecretary general for internal oversight services. Photo: United Nations
South China Morning Post
10-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
Chinese-Filipino tycoon's killing sparks fears of organised crime surge in the Philippines
The killing of a prominent ethnic Chinese businessman and his driver – whose bodies were found bound and stuffed in rice sacks by the roadside east of Manila – has reignited fears over a surge in violent kidnappings in the Philippines and the growing threat of organised crime networks. Advertisement Anson Que, 51, CEO of Elison Steel and a well-known figure in the Chinese-Filipino community, was abducted on March 29 along with his driver, Armanie Pabillo, in Bulacan province. Their bodies were found on Wednesday in neighbouring Rizal province, bound with nylon rope and wrapped in duct tape, showing clear signs of assault. 'There were signs of bruises and some body injuries and signs of strangulation,' said Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police (PNP), who confirmed Que's identity on Thursday. Fajardo said the PNP had removed the acting director of its Anti-Kidnapping Group, Colonel Elmer Ragay, amid mounting criticism over a lack of progress in curbing such crimes. Police investigating the area where the bodies of Anson Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo were discovered. Photo: Handout Authorities are investigating a possible link to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), which were officially banned at the start of this year due to their association with criminal activities but are believed to continue operating underground through illicit networks. Advertisement
