
Gatchalian seeks probe on BI's alleged mishandling of POGO-related deportations
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking an inquiry into alleged corruption and misconduct in the handling of POGO deportations by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
In a statement on Saturday, Gatchalian said he filed Senate Resolution 1381 to probe the agency's leadership amid allegations of corruption and misconduct raised by some concerned BI employees.
'The improper implementation of the country's anti-POGO policy concerning the detention and deportation of foreign nationals involved in POGOs may create loopholes in our anti-POGO framework and allow nefarious POGO actors to continue their operations,' Gatchalian said.
The senator said that the improper deportation of POGO-related foreign nationals may allow them to escape liability.
GMA News Online reached out to BI for comment. The story will be updated once a response has been received.
Earlier this month, unnamed BI employees sent a letter to the President, accusing the agency's top official of overstepping authority by expediting bail for foreign nationals tied to POGOs, including influential POGO figures, according to the lawmaker.
The BI employees also claimed that a new scheme has emerged involving the auctioning of permanent quota visas to the highest bidder.
'Kailangan nating ituwid ang katiwalian sa ahensyang inaasahang nagpapatupad ng batas at punan ang pagkukulang sa ating mga regulasyon,' Gatchalian said.
(We need to correct corruption in the agency that is supposed to enforce the law and fill the gaps in our regulations.)
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. earlier this week also said he is looking into the allegations
Well, of course, we're looking at it. But, you know, mahirap mapag-aralan nang mabuti kung white paper na hindi napirmahan at saka walang specifics. But nonetheless, everything like this, we look into it, and we will continue to do that,'' Marcos told reporters in an ambush interview. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
15 hours ago
- GMA Network
Gatchalian seeks probe on BI's alleged mishandling of POGO-related deportations
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking an inquiry into alleged corruption and misconduct in the handling of POGO deportations by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). In a statement on Saturday, Gatchalian said he filed Senate Resolution 1381 to probe the agency's leadership amid allegations of corruption and misconduct raised by some concerned BI employees. 'The improper implementation of the country's anti-POGO policy concerning the detention and deportation of foreign nationals involved in POGOs may create loopholes in our anti-POGO framework and allow nefarious POGO actors to continue their operations,' Gatchalian said. The senator said that the improper deportation of POGO-related foreign nationals may allow them to escape liability. GMA News Online reached out to BI for comment. The story will be updated once a response has been received. Earlier this month, unnamed BI employees sent a letter to the President, accusing the agency's top official of overstepping authority by expediting bail for foreign nationals tied to POGOs, including influential POGO figures, according to the lawmaker. The BI employees also claimed that a new scheme has emerged involving the auctioning of permanent quota visas to the highest bidder. 'Kailangan nating ituwid ang katiwalian sa ahensyang inaasahang nagpapatupad ng batas at punan ang pagkukulang sa ating mga regulasyon,' Gatchalian said. (We need to correct corruption in the agency that is supposed to enforce the law and fill the gaps in our regulations.) President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. earlier this week also said he is looking into the allegations Well, of course, we're looking at it. But, you know, mahirap mapag-aralan nang mabuti kung white paper na hindi napirmahan at saka walang specifics. But nonetheless, everything like this, we look into it, and we will continue to do that,'' Marcos told reporters in an ambush interview. —VAL, GMA Integrated News


GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Telecom operators call for review of Konektadong Pinoy Act
The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) urged the administration to closely review the measure before signing the bill and to ensure that its implementing rules establish clear, enforceable guardrails are the ones that promote real digital inclusion, ensure national security, and preserve a fair and future-ready industry. The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), composed of the country's leading telcos, is calling for a review of the Konektadong Pinoy Act that was ratified by both chambers of Congress and awaiting the President's signature. The PCTO said, that while it supports the bill's goal of expanding internet access across the country, it warned that the version passed by the bicameral committee could 'lead to national security vulnerabilities, weaken regulatory oversight, and destabilize the telecommunications sector in the long run.' 'We support providing broader connectivity to all Filipinos. However, the bill lowers the bar for accountability and opens the country to risks tied to unregulated infrastructure and potential foreign control,' said Atty. Froilan Castelo, PCTO president and Globe general counsel. Under the measure, new data transmission players are no longer required to secure a legislative franchise or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) — a move that removes key filters historically used to evaluate legal, financial, technical, and cybersecurity readiness. 'This creates a two-tier system. Existing players remain subject to full regulation, while new entrants operate with fewer checks. That's a national security concern and a fairness issue,' said Castelo. The PCTO also raised concern about the law's exemption for satellite direct access services from any form of registration or authorization from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) or the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). This stands in contrast to the law's own principle of technology neutrality under Section 19. 'You cannot claim to be technology-neutral and at the same time give one technology a free pass. The provision requiring satellite services to apply for NTC spectrum use was removed in the final version. That opens a dangerous backdoor,' Castelo said. On cybersecurity, the group flagged that the law allows new players a two-year window to comply with national and international security standards. The PCTO believes this delay is unacceptable in today's environment of escalating cyber threats. Another gap in the law is the absence of any requirement for new players to serve geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), according to the group, adding that 'this could incentivize new entrants to focus only on high-density urban areas, leaving rural communities behind.' The telecom operators also noted the risks of rushing legislation without deeper stakeholder review, citing the POGO law as a cautionary example of well-intended but poorly executed policy. 'We've seen what happens when laws are rushed and under-vetted. We cannot afford another case where gaps in the law create bigger problems down the road,' Castelo said. The PCTO urged the administration to closely review the measure before signing the bill and to ensure that its implementing rules establish clear, enforceable guardrails are the ones that promote real digital inclusion, ensure national security, and preserve a fair and future-ready industry. — BAP, GMA Integrated News


GMA Network
2 days ago
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Senator-judges must be fair, impartial in impeachment trial — Gatchalian
Five senator-judges raise their hands to signify they are voting against the move to remand the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte back to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Majority of the senator-judges voted in favor of the motion. Courtesy: Joseph B. Vidal/OSP Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Friday his fellow senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte must act with fairness and impartiality. Gatchalian made the remark when asked about his colleagues Imee Marcos and Robin Padilla joining Duterte in Malaysia for an Independence Day event on Thursday. "Kapag binasa natin 'yung rules of impeachment, ilang beses nakasulat doon na dapat maging pantay, dapat maging impartial, dapat walang kinikilingan. 'Pagpasok ng impeachment court, itong mga prinsipyong ito ay dapat naming gawin at dapat nating isapuso at isaisip dahil importante na maging pantay tayo o impartial, at 'yan ay madiin na isinulat sa rules of impeachment," said Gatchalian in an interview on Unang Balita. (If we read the rules of impeachment, it was mentioned there several times that we should be fair and impartial. Once we enter the impeachment court, we must practice, keep in our hearts these principles because it's important for us to be fair and impartial.) During the event with overseas Filipino workers in Kuala Lumpur, Padilla went on stage and declared Duterte as the next president of the country. Marcos, on the other hand, joked about incidents during the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court. "Higit sa lahat, kamuntik nang buntalin si Senator Joel Villanueva. Maisug kami talaga. Ako nasigawan ko si Risa Hontiveros. Sorry ha, pasensya," Marcos said. (Most of all, Senator Joel Villanueva was almost punched. We're really brave. I shouted at [Senator] Risa Hontiveros. Sorry about that.) Articles of impeachment Voting 18 to 5, the Senate moved to return to the House of Representatives the articles of impeachment against Duterte without dismissing or terminating them. Senator-judges asked the House to certify the non-violation of the one-year ban on impeachment complaints, and sought assurance from the 20th Congress that it is willing and ready to pursue the impeachment complaint. The House on Wednesday night certified that Duterte's impeachment complied with the 1987 Constitution. The House plenary also deferred acceptance of the articles of impeachment until the Senate impeachment court has responded to the queries sought by the House prosecution panel regarding the matter. Public trust Gatchalian was one of the five senators who voted against the return of the articles of impeachment back to the House. "Dapat maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan na hindi pa natin pinag-uusapan 'yung kaso mismo. Hindi pa natin pinag-uusapan kung guilty o not guilty 'yung akusado. Ang pinag-uusapan natin dito ay 'yung proseso," said Gatchalian, explaining his "no" vote. (Our countrymen must understand that we are not yet discussing the case itself. We are not yet discussing whether the accused is guilty or not guilty. What we are discussing here is the process.) "Dahil sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas, 'pag na-transmit na sa Senado yug articles of impeachment, wala ng choice ang Senado kung hindi ipagpatuloy na 'yung trial," Gatchalian said. (Under the Constitution, once the articles of impeachment have been transmitted to the Senate, the Senate has no choice but to continue the trial.) Further, Gatchalian said that he wants the trial to be on schedule to gain the public's confidence in the Senate. "'Yun 'yung ayaw kong mangyari, 'yung mawala 'yung tiwala ng taong bayan pagdating sa mandato ng Senado at gusto natin mayroon silang kumpyansa," he said. (That's what I don't want to happen, that the people lose their trust when it comes to the Senate's mandate, and we want them to have confidence.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News