Marcos Denies Hand At Linking Duterte To POGOs
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has denied any involvement in or awareness of a supposed “Palace plot” that allegedly connects former President Rodrigo Duterte to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) amid recent investigations.
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Responding directly to questions surrounding the controversy, President Marcos said in an interview that he doesn’t “know anything,” based on a Daily Tribune article.
House legislators have started exploring potential links between POGO operations and the so-called “drug war reward system” allegedly introduced during Duterte’s administration.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns that funds from POGOs could have been diverted to reward enforcement officers or others involved in anti-drug operations, such as nabbing and potentially killing drug suspects.
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The controversy surrounding POGOs has intensified as the Philippine government considers a possible phaseout of the gaming operators over concerns about their contributions to crime and illicit activities.
Several representatives have cited intelligence reports and unverified financial documents that suggest a potential connection, but no conclusive evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims.
President Marcos Jr. is eager to put a hard stop of offshore gaming operators in the Philippines, giving them until the end of the year to deescalate their operations and leave the country.
Immigration authorities have also began processing the visa downgrades of these employees.
In response, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which oversees the licensing of POGOs, has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation, though it clarified that it is unaware of any misuse of POGO funds.
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Source: Daily Tribune