Photo credit: Senator Win Gatchalian

Recent headlines have been dominated by allegations against Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac. Prominent officials, including Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian and Senator Risa Hontiveros, accuse the mayor of being a Chinese national masquerading as a Filipino to conceal crimes associated with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in her jurisdiction.

Senators Gatchalian and Hontiveros have presented evidence purportedly proving Mayor Guo’s true nationality and her involvement in covering up illegal activities tied to POGOs. This revelation underscores a larger issue: the complicity and oversight failures of local government units (LGUs) and regulatory bodies like the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Should we believe that the Governors of Tarlac and Pampanga are oblivious to the operations inside these POGO hubs?

The exposure of Mayor Guo’s alleged deception raises questions about the accountability of other officials and the extent of illegal POGO operations. It is imperative to identify and hold accountable all accomplices involved in these activities. Despite regulatory frameworks, many illegal POGOs continue to operate with impunity. It is time for LGUs and PAGCOR to enforce stricter monitoring and regulation.

The recent discovery of a POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, described by Senator Gatchalian as the most brutal and violent POGO operation he has encountered, exemplifies the severity of the issue. The magnitude of this facility raises concerns about local government awareness and complicity.

Mayor Guo’s status as a poster girl for POGOs has become exaggerated and deceptive at times. It is also time to investigate how these structures operate while regulatory bodies and other public officials turn a blind eye.