PAGCOR’s Tengco to name ex-govt official linked to illegal POGOs

The head of PAGCOR, the Philippine gambling regulator, claims he will soon identify a “former high-ranking government official” who allegedly helped some of the unlawful POGOs recently raided for illicit operations obtain gaming licenses.

In a weekend statement, Alejandro Tengco defended the agency’s performance over his two-year leadership, noting that the number of offshore gaming licenses has decreased from a peak of 298 to just 43.

Tengco asserts that investigators should consider the role of previous officials in approving licenses for POGO applicants with questionable backgrounds.

He promised to disclose the name of a former Cabinet member who he claims was advocating for unlawful POGOs and the events that led to the growth of illicit offshore gaming businesses.

“As regulators, it is our responsibility to ensure that only legitimately licensed individuals run any kind of gambling or gaming activity, whether land-based casinos or online platforms,” Tengco stated.

He emphasized that cracking down on unlawful operators, especially offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and their supporters, is in the government’s best interest due to the major threats their criminal activities pose to the public.

Regarding the number of licenses, Tengco added, “We need to question how those 298 POGO licensees secured their licenses because, during our cleansing process, we found most to be ineligible and outright suspicious.”

“We are also prepared to expose the involvement of other controversial figures in these illicit POGO ventures.”

Tengco’s remarks coincide with the ongoing investigation into suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, recently identified as Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national.

Original Story by: IAG