Probe pushed on how foreigners get govt IDs, passports

SEN. Imee Marcos yesterday called for an investigation into how foreign workers, mostly employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) outlets, have been able to obtain legitimate government-issued identification cards and pushed for sanctions against those involved in the modus.

In an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo, Marcos said the investigation should focus on the reported rampant selling of Philippine passports, and IDs issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA or the Philippine Identification System ID cards), the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), among others.

She stressed it is time to put an end to the unlawful activity, which she lamented has made the Philippines a “playground of criminal syndicates.”

“Maganda bang pakinggan na ang Pilipinas ay playground ng lahat ng krimen sa mundo?

Parating Pilipinas ang starring sa krimen ang sagwa eh (Is it good to hear that the Philippines is a playground of all crimes in the world? Philippines is always the ‘star’ in crimes, and it not good),” Marcos said.

Marcos made the call after the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission earlier said that a certain group provides authentic government-issued IDs to foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The PAOCC did not give details as to the group.

The PAOCC is part of the combined government agencies which recently raided a POGO building in Pasay City and discovered a torture chamber and a sex hub, among others. The raiding team likewise confiscated several government-issued IDs in the POGO hub, among them BIR and PhilHealth IDs.

Marcos said that while the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has assured that stricter regulations will be implemented on Internet Gaming Licensees, the new name for POGOs, illegal activities still occur.

She said authorities should “once and for all” go all out against syndicates behind the unlawful acts.

“Tignan natin kasi ang mga regulasyon, hihigpitan daw, babaguhin. Pero ang nakikita natin mismo, pareho pa rin, pareho pa rin ang mga pangalan, mga lisensiya. Ano ang nagbago diyan? Baka nagbago lang ang inaabutan (Let us