BY JOVEN TUNGALA
Senator Win Gatchalian on Tuesday welcomed the Palace’s move to freeze the assets of the Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, a Philippine offshore gaming operator or POGO firm which was recently raided by authorities in Tarlac last month.
In a statement, Gatchalian, a strong opponent of POGOs, described their presence in our country as a “self-inflicted wound.”
“POGOs not only bring crime and shame to our country, but also logistical complications and cost for the government as feeding, housing and deporting foreign criminals and unwanted workers is an enormous endeavor,” he said.
Gatchalian, who earlier called for the permanent ban of POGOs, reiterated that the income generated from the POGO outweighs the social costs of online gambling.
“There’s no benefit from POGOs as alleged by its proponents because the cost of criminality is immeasurable compared to the country’s well-being,” he said.
On Monday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin directed the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze the assets of Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, which is located in Bambam, Tarlac.
The POGO firm was raided by authorities last month over suspected illegal activities based on two court-issued search warrants.
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesperson Winston Casio said the search warrants were issued for alleged human trafficking and serious illegal detention of the POGO workers.
