Solons Investigating if POGO Funds are Linked to Alleged Drug War “Reward System”

Authorities are currently investigating the possibility that the alleged reward money for police officers involved in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” may have also been funded by money earned through Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum held on October 16, 2024, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers cited Duterte’s previous pronouncement on his usage of intelligence funds for something, which may have come from the Office of the President or the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Barbers is the House Quad Committee panel chairperson.

“Merong pronouncement dati ang dating pangulo na meron siyang pinaggagamitan sa kanyang intelligence funds (The former president had a pronouncement that he was using his intelligence funds for something). But again it’s really very hard to look into the full of disclosure of intelligence funds. We’ll probably look into disbursement of these funds and where the source might probably be, other than intelligence funds,” Barbers said, as quoted by an ABS-CBN News interview.

While this may be the case, Barbers, who was a long-time Duterte ally, added that he and other authorities will also explore fund sources outside government.

“Ngayon dumami ang [Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators], probably galing din sa POGO,” said Barbers.

The quad commission is currently examining various concerns surrounding POGOs. Barbers noted that they have not yet uncovered evidence regarding the alleged sources of funding.

“We’re actively investigating the origins of the funds because we want to thoroughly understand the issue of reward money,” he stated.

He emphasized that although law enforcement agencies do have intelligence funds, these are primarily used to gather information on specific individuals.

“There is no legal basis for the government to provide reward money for the kill,” he explained, clarifying that the rewards offered by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency are intended for informants, not law enforcement officers.

“This is given, this is legal, this is budgeted every year for informants, assets that will give information for successful prosecution.”

Rep. Dan Fernandez of Santa Rosa, Laguna, a co-chair of the quad commission, echoed similar sentiments regarding the investigation. Fernandez indicated that they would be examining the timeline of intelligence fund releases from the Office of the President beginning in 2016.

During his administration, Duterte vocally backed the mounting of Philippine offshore gaming operations, which he claimed generated a vital amount of revenue for the Philippines.

Retired Police Colonel Royina Garma served as general manager of state-run Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office under former President Duterte. She previously testified during the panel’s inquiry that bounties for each killing in the war on drugs ranged from P20,000 to as much as P1 million. Garma also pinned Duterte as a “mastermind” in the drug-related killings.

Garma is also being investigated for the assassination of former PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

Garma’s testimony supported earlier claims made by Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido, who noted the existence of a “quota and reward system” during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

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