There is insufficient evidence to link Rodrigo Duterte to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, the justice department said.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on December 10, 2024 that there is insufficient evidence to link former President Rodrigo Duterte to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.
Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty stated during a forum organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute that the DOJ’s investigation focused on illegal POGO operations at an individual level.
“At the level of individual POGOs, we haven’t seen any evidence to connect former President Duterte,” Ty said, as reported by GMA News.
He reiterated that the probe examined specific illegal enterprises rather than implicating overarching figures or higher-level officials.
“There is not enough evidence to link President Duterte to illegal POGO operations. Clearly, when it comes to POGOs, we tackled illegal POGOs at the level of each illegal enterprise,” Ty explained.
The statement follows growing public and legislative scrutiny of POGO activities in the Philippines, which have been associated with criminal activities, such as human trafficking and money laundering.
During the final Senate hearing on POGO operations in November, Senator Risa Hontiveros presented a matrix of individuals allegedly exploiting the gambling sector for personal enrichment.
While investigations into illegal POGO enterprises continue, Ty emphasized the absence of direct evidence against the former president. The DOJ's findings underscore the complexity of addressing illegal gambling activities and holding those involved accountable.
Michael Yang, who previously served as a presidential adviser during the Duterte administration, was mentioned in the report. When asked if Yang’s association with the administration was sufficient to link Duterte to illegal POGOs, Ty said “the association is not enough to connect him... and to bring up an investigation.”
In July, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. implemented a nationwide ban on all POGOs after several operators were found to be involved in criminal activities such as human trafficking, serious illegal detention, and fraudulent schemes, formalizing this through Executive Order 74 which was signed last November.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) expressed confidence in meeting its year-end goal, stating that all POGOs in the country would be eliminated by December 15, 2024.
Read related article: Hontiveros “web” links Ex-Pres Duterte, Yang to POGOs
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