Senate concludes POGO probe, finds 'web of people' exploited industry

The Philippine Senate concluded its five-year investigation into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), revealing a "web of people" who exploited the industry for personal gain.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women and Children, described POGOs as a "Trojan horse" that brought nothing but nightmares to the Philippines.

The probe gained momentum following the discovery of an illegal POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac, allegedly linked to then-mayor Alice Guo, identified as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.

Hontiveros presented a chart linking former President Rodrigo Duterte, Michael Yang, Pharmally scandal personalities, Chinese spy She Zhijiang, Alice Guo, and Harry Roque.

The investigation scrutinized the country's laws and policies, finding them insufficient to prevent POGO abuses, particularly in birth registration, immigration, business establishment, and bank secrecy.

Hontiveros vowed to push for legislative reforms to prevent future incidents like the Alice Guo case.

She assured that Guo Hua Ping would not be able to repeat her alleged actions, and lessons would be learned.

The Senate's arrest order against Guo has been quashed.