MANILA, Philippines – Various torture videos allegedly being conducted within premises of illegal offshore gaming centers were presented Wednesday before the hearing at the House of Represenatives had lawmakers mortified they had to stop its airing.
Santa Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez, chairman of the House Committee on Public Order supported by Leyte 1st District Representative Richard Gomez requested for the videos to be played. Without any trigger warning or blurs, lawmakers, including reporters covering the hearing were shocked to see what the victims went through.
Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong requested to stop airing the videos for the sake of those who may not be able to stomach such harrowing tortures.
“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,” she said.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) told the House Committee on Games and Amusements that the videos were obtained from former POGO employees who managed to escape the facility.
Displaying clear faces, the clips showed victims being severely beaten with metal bats or sticks, even electrocuted using tasers. Sexual abuse was also done to the victims.
Gomez however defended why the videos had to be shown despite its disturbing content.
“Gruesome as it may be to show these videos Mr. Chair, but it is very important for everyone to see what is happening inside the Pogo, because it’s hard to tell stories only, sometimes you may fall asleep if you just rely on storytelling,” he said.
“But if people are seeing what is happening inside this Pogo hubs, then you are, you feel the pain, you feel the torture, and you feel the illegal activities that are happening inside, and then people are having an understanding — what are government agencies doing about this?” he asked.
Fernandez agreed with Gomez that the country as well as the international community had to see what really happened so that people would know the Philippine government is doing something to address crimes in POGOs.
Eventually the two agreed that the committee had seen enough because the succeeding videos were far worse that what was earlier shown.
“And rightly so, Congressman Alonto, maybe we have already shown a lot, maybe we can stop that, we have shown almost five videos. But I have seen a lot of videos, I have seen others you cannot take anymore especially the abuse on the sexual torture. There was a sexual torture, man-to-man, they were punishing those who would not follow their orders,” Fernandez said.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said POGO employees were beaten when their bosses speculate that they leak information to law enforcement.
“Ang kaparusahan po talaga ay todo-todong pagbubugbog,” Casio said.
