Palace: Morente 'not off the hook' as probe into 'pastillas' scheme continues
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte “loves” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, but the bureau chief is not “off the hook” as the probe into the “
News5 reported that Panelo said: “Everyone is not off the hook. The confidence [in Morente] is there until
Hindi
— News5 AKSYON (@News5AKSYON) February 21, 2020pa rin "off the hook" si Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morentesa isinasagawang imbestigasyon sa umano'y "pastillas scheme"ng ilang immigration officers. Ito aykahit tiniyak ni Pres. Duterteang integridad ni Morentekagabi . pic. twitter.com/ISQywBAnPx
The Immigration bureau
Duterte on Thursday ordered the relief of all Immigration officials and employees believed to
The president spared Morente from the firing and said he “[loves] him because he became my police chief here. He is kind.”
Amendment to Immigration law
Morente, meanwhile, admitted to the Senate panel that money-making schemes such as the “
He said that in July
He admitted that it is difficult for him to address a syndicated operation such as the “
Guevarra, in response to Morente’s remarks, said that a strong BI leadership may help deter such corruption modus, pending amendment to the immigration law.
“If the BI wants greater autonomy, the solution is to amend our existing immigration law. In the meantime, the BI leadership should exert greater efforts to address the culture of corruption in the bureau,” Guevarra explained in a message to reporters.
Guevarra added that anomalies in BI that
The NBI is already looking into the “
The Justice chief also said that the proposed measure for the modernization of the Immigration remains pending before the Congress, “awaiting deliberations for quite some time now.”
He added: “An improved and modernized organizational and functional framework for the BI under a new law will determine whether control or supervision by a mother agency will be necessary.” — Kristine Joy
The Chinese Embassy notes with "grave concern" a government plan to move Chinese Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to centralized hubs in Clark, Pampanga and in Kawit, Cavite.
The embassy says in a statement that the move "may infringe on the basic legal rights of the Chinese citizens concerned." The embassy said it "strongly urges the Philippine government to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the Philippines."
It adds "according to the Chinese laws and regulations, any form of gambling by Chinese citizens, including online-gambling, gambling overseas, opening casinos overseas to attract citizens of China as primary customers, is illegal."
The government should continue its crackdown on illegal offshore gambling operations in the country, Rep. Eric Go Yap (ACT-CIS party-list), vice chair of the House Games panel and who supports the resumption of operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, says.
Referring to the the illegal gambling operators as NOGOs (Non-registered Offline Gaming Operations), Yap says the recent arrest of 265 Chinese people at an illegal gambling operation in Las Piñas City "should serve as a warning to those in underground operations and those who are planning to do so."
He adds in comments meant for the illegal gambling operators: "You have no business being in our country, literally and figuratively speaking." — The STAR/Artemio Dumlao
The Association of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and Service Providers welcomes arrests in Makati and Parañaque of people involved in illegal online gambling as it stresses that its members follow the law.
"We do not condone, abet, or tolerate any form of these illegal operations. Their existence prejudices the interests of legitimate POGO operators subjecting our members to unfair criticisms," the group says.
The government has decided to allow POGOs to resume operations, subject to quarantine restrictions, saying they are, as far it is concerned, business process outsourcing firms.
"We reiterate our commitment to comply with the conditions set by Malacañang, PAGCOR and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to ensure everyone’s safety," the association says.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who has held hearings on human trafficking and corruption related to the POGOs, asks whether the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. is doing public relations work on behalf of the offshore gambling operators after Pagcor took out newspaper ads defending them.
"PAGCOR is a regulatory body. Why is it lobbying for the POGO industry?" Hontivers says on her Twitter account.
"Nakakabahala na mukhang may intent to dismiss the investigations the Senate has done with regard to POGOs' links to prostitution, human trafficking, and money laundering!" she also says.
"Sana ginamit nalang ang perang pinanggastos sa ad para sa COVID-19 response natin."
Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators as a sector pledged P150 million to assist in efforts against COVID-19, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. says at a press briefing.
Andrea Domingo, CEO of PAGCOR, says P90 million of the total aid from POGOs is set for medical supplies while the remaining P60 million is for the purchasing and delivery of food to communities affected by the Luzon lockdown.
Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, gaming stations, poker clubs and other gaming outlets in Metro Manila will be closed, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. chairperson Andrea Domingo tells Superadyo dzBB.
Privately-owned gambling outlets have until midnight to shutter operations.
She says the gaming stations will remain closed until the end of the community quarantine in Metro Manila.
Gaming stations and operations in areas outside the National Capital Region that have declared community quarantines will also be closed.
"POGO workers will be confined to their quarters at doon lang sila puwedeng mag-work from home," Domingo also says.
She says PAGCOR will allow POGOs to operate with a skeletal workforce, provided that the staff will be ferried to and from their workplaces in buses.
POGO workers who disobey the guidelines will have their passports cancelled and will be deported.
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