The House Committee on Public Order and Safety and the House Committee on Games and Amusements kicked off Wednesday, July 17, 2024 its investigation into POGO-linked crimes. Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — Several clips showing alleged torture and other forms of abuse were shown Wednesday during a public hearing of the House of Representatives as it kicked off its investigation into reported criminal activities involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO).

The probe is led by the House Committee on Public Order and Safety and the House Committee on Games and Amusements, upon the orders of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

• House panels set inquiry into POGO-linked crimes on July 17

Without much trigger warning, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) presented at least 4 videos of torture it had obtained from former employees of illegal POGOs. Its earlier presentation also showed snippets of torture, with faces of the victims clearly visible.

• PAOCC obtains torture videos from illegal POGO in Porac

Some reporters who were covering the public hearing appeared mortified after seeing the videos, most of which showed severe beating of foreign POGO employees.

A folder containing PAOCC's presentation, including torture videos, shown during the House hearing into POGO-linked crims. House of Representatives livestream/Screengrab

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong had to intervene and question the presentation of such sensitive content.

"For the other videos, may we request [on behalf of those] who have low tolerance for these torture videos, especially women, that we no longer show these videos. Remember we are live streamed on Youtube and there are kids who may view these videos. Testimony and stories are enough," Adiong told the panel.

• House to probe 'rogue' POGOs to identify 'masterminds, protectors'

Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez, however, said that showing the "gruesome videos" was crucial for the public to "feel the pain" of the victims.

"Gruesome as it may be to show these videos, but it is very important for everyone to see what is happening inside the POGOs. Kasi mahirap yung kuwnetuhan lang tayo. If people are seeing what's happening in these POGO hubs then you feel the pain, you feel the torture, and people are having an understanding," Gomez said.

House Public Order panel chair. Rep. Dan Hernandez also defended the showing of the torture videos, saying he had informed the body about it earlier.

"Mabigat man po ang mga eksena but we have to tell to the Filipino people and international community that this country is doing something [for their citizens]," Hernandez said.

PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said POGO employees were subjected to torture when their bosses think that they are leaking information to law enforcers about their illegal operations.

"Ang kaparusahan po talaga ay todo-todong pagbubugbog," Casio said.

-- Rescued POGO workers attend hearing -- 

Five foreign nationals who were rescued from illegal POGOs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga attended the hearing. Among them was a Malaysian, Dylan, who according to the PAOCC only meant to eat with his friend in Baofu on Chinese New Year but was sold for P300,000.

"Ang nag-benta sa kaniya, barkada po niya. Ang sabi sa kaniya ng barkada niya, kakain lang sa Baofu, kasi Chinese New Year po 'yun. Pero ang nangyari, ibinenta siya sa halagang P300,000, pero hindi niya alam," said Casio.

"Noong nagpupumilit na siyang umalis sa Baofu, sa Porac, doon na in-inform siya na 'You have already been sold, and you will have to pay off your debt to them.' Kinuha ang kaniyang cell phone, tapos sinabihan na siya na kung kaya mong bayaran within six months, makakalabas ka," he added.

According to Dylan, he was "not allowed to go out. " "You need to work around half a year, after that, with the payment, I can get freedom. At night in Bamban, when I stay, they got my personal phone, I lost my contacts," he added.

Asked by Fernandez if he was tortured and physically abused, Dylan said: "I got punched. Just one or two times."

Meanwhile, a Filipina said she ended up working at a POGO in Myanmar linked to a "love scam," despite being recruited as an encoder.

"Ako 'yung isa sa babae na pinaka na-torture doon," she said. "Noong nagpaalam na po kami, nag-decide umuwi, syempre hindi sila papayag, kasi kung uuwi kayo, magbabayad ng 7,000 USD."

PAOCC told the committee that based on its investigation, several foreign workers in POGOs arrived with tourist visas, which were eventually converted to working visas. It submitted to the House panels a list of 402 illegal POGOs, which lawmakers said should be shut down.

"It is the responsibility of mayors to make sure that they should not be operating anymore… Kung tumatakbo pa rin ito sa mga LGU, that must be investigated, must be questioned," said Gomez.