Yap backs arrest of ‘NOGOs’ or illegal POGOs

ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap on Saturday expressed support for the government’s effort to crack down on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), or “NOGOs” “non-registered offshore gaming operators).

The chair of the House appropriations committee and vice chair of the House games and amusements committee said he was following the developments in the raids on illegal POGO operators in southern Metro Manila.

On Thursday, at least 265 Chinese nationals allegedly engaged in illegal online gaming operations were arrested by joint forces in Las Piñas City.

The police recovered P6,463,490 in cash, 143 pieces of foreign currency bills. Assorted laptop computers, desktop computers, central processing units (CPUs), cellphones, and other computer gadgets.

“We are following these reports. Sisiguraduhin natin na mapapanagot sila sa kanilang paglabag sa batas. We commend the authorities for continuously going after these NOGOs. This should serve as a warning para sa mga nagsasagawa ng underground operations pati sa mga magbabalak pa lang. Hindi kayo makakaligtas,” Yap warned.

“Aside from the fact that they are conducting illegal gaming operations, they are also breaching the security and health protocols observed during the community quarantine. Kung sino pa ang illegal, sila pa ang malakas ang loob na magviolate nito,” he added.

“Kung akala nila di sila huhulihin, nagkakamali sila. There is no excuse para sa ginagawa nila. Kung illegal, kailangan kaharapin ang batas. Kaisa tayo ng PAGCOR at ang Task Force POGO sa layunin nilang mahuli ang mga katulad nilang NOGOs,” he said.

“You have no business being in our country, literally and figuratively speaking. Mataas ang tiwala natin sa PAGCOR sa kanilang commitment na sugpuin ang mga NOGOs sa bansa,” Yap said.

“Sinisira ng mga NOGOs ang imahe ng mga legitimong POGO companies sa bansa na fully compliant,” he added.

“Maraming kababayan natin ang natutulungan ng industriya na ito sa pamamagitan ng mga fees at taxes nila, malaking bagay yun ngayon na kailangan natin ng pondo para makabangon mula sa krisis na kinakaharap natin ngayon,” he said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)