NBI investigating ties between POGO, espionage
'In some operations by the NBI relative to the issues on foreign espionage, nakita namin," NBI Spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin told the House Quadcomm during the continuation of the hearings on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and illegal drugs.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is investigating the potential connection between illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and espionage in the country.
'In some operations by the NBI relative to the issues on foreign espionage, nakita namin," NBI Spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin told the House Quadcomm during the continuation of the hearings on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and illegal drugs.
"We're completing our data on the nexus, the interconnection between the operations of POGO and espionage. And once we're done with the investigations on this, we will submit a copy of our report,' NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin told the House Quadcomm hearing on extrajudicial killings and illegal drugs.
'We have filed cases against a good number of foreign nationals involved in the various espionage activities,' he added.
Lavin said POGO operators shifted to various types of operations following the ban on online gambling. The new operations include financial scamming and espionage activities, according to Lavin.
Asked if the NBI probe meant the POGO is interrelated to the espionage activities in the country, he answered: 'We're going in that direction."
"We're doing some digital forensic examination on the gadgets we seized during the various operations, both financial scamming activities and espionage activities," Lavin said.
Lavin said the NBI is also coordinating with other government agencies, including BI, PNP, and PAOCC for the probe.
'We're exhausting all means to come up with the expectations, not only of this honorable committee, but of the Filipino public,' he added.
In March, the Department of National Defense announced that six foreigners and two Filipinos linked to suspected espionage and kidnapping activities were arrested in Grande Island, Subic Bay. –NB, GMA Integrated News
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