Quad Comm co-chair and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers disclosed yesterday that Mylah Roque had informed the committee that she was leaving for Singapore to have a medical check-up.
Roque left Manila for Singapore on Sept. 3, over a month before an arrest order was issued on Oct. 11 for her repeated failure to appear before the Quad Comm hearing. An immigration lookout bulletin, on the other hand was only issued on Sept. 16.
Barbers, who also chairs the House dangerous drugs panel, said Mylah sent the joint committee members a letter about her departure.
“Well, I cannot judge why she left, maybe because she has a letter for us saying that she went for a check-up in Singapore and she has not returned since then,” Barbers said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
“I hope nothing serious is happening to her, because it has been that long. We don’t know, we just hope and pray that there is no serious medical issue.,” he added.
Barbers said other lawmakers would insist on having Mylah personally attend and answer questions in the hearings, even if documents have been already submitted.
The Committee will decide on Myla Roque’s status when it resumes sessions next week.
Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged authorities to continue to hunt down illegal POGOs (Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators) even after the December deadline set by the President.
“A ban is a ban. If Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) persist even beyond the December deadline, [the] government should still go after them.”
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Tuesday that “around 58 to 200” illegal POGOs are still operating in the country in defiance of President Marcos’ ban.
“We are still receiving many reports that these illegal [POGOs] are still going on. We’re taking seriously the order of the president that by the end of the year, all of that is gone,” PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said in a televised interview.
“Whether it’s legal or illegal, they should really be closing down. They should be winding down. That’s why we’re talking to the OIC of PAGCOR again about how to close even the legal [POGOs]. It’s really difficult. because they still have administrative matters that must be settled such as the payment of fees to DOLE, BIR, and separation pay if any,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested around 17 Chinese nationals on Tuesday during a raid on a resort in Tagaytay City.
The NBI Cybercrime Division raided the resort in Barangay Francisco after receiving a tip from a Chinese national who claimed to have been tortured there. The victim was rescued. Upon entering the premises, authorities were surprised to find computer workstations and cellphones, which the suspects allegedly used for POGO operations.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago personally led a media tour of the operation. The victim also recounted to Santiago the alleged torture they suffered.
“These are their cellphones, the cellphones they use. All of these are used for transferring money, for cryptocurrency,” Santiago said.
“The victim wanted to leave, so they were beaten, electrocuted. That’s why we rescued them. They will be filing a complaint. They were the only one we rescued,” he added.”
