Philippine senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called for an investigation into the possible involvement of the recently shuttered company behind a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) operation in other alleged crimes and offenses.
According to the nation’s news agency, Gatchalian suggests that the recent raid on Smart Web Technology Corporation, is evidence that criminal syndicates continue to operate in the Philippines.
Smart Web Technology Corporation is an Internet Gaming Licensee (IGL) under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Gatchalian claims that “It is obvious that organized criminal syndicates are already operating in our country, as evidenced by the human trafficking victims and even the torture chamber. These syndicates have already corrupted our enforcers enabling them to operate freely even beside the police station”.
The senator hopes the relevant Senate committee will handle the issue within this week, having submitted the investigation resolution on Monday.
The late-October raid on the Pasay City POGO operation led to the rescue of over 700 victims, primarily of Chinese origins.
During the raid, authorities found a nine-room KTV lounge, a pharmacy, restaurant and other facilities in the six-story complex, discovering “an abundance of evidence pointing to sex trafficking”.
Investigations into the operation have already led to 27 police officers being relieved of duty, including the Pasay City Chief of Police.
