Concerns about illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have surfaced in Bacolod after a local priest cautioned residents about individuals offering cash in exchange for obtaining their government-issued IDs.
Father Chris Gonzales, parish priest of the Triumph of the Holy Cross in Barangay Estefania, reported being informed that government IDs were being bought from residents near the Palm Haven cemetery for P300 to P400, allegedly by Chinese nationals.
A tricycle driver recounted an encounter with two Chinese individuals who offered him P400 to photograph his government-issued IDs, including his driver’s license, under the pretense of creating a GCash account for gaming purposes.
The priest has reported this incident to the police and barangay captain Gerry Tingson.
Tingson said that six individuals in his barangay had sold their IDs. He also received reports that the woman involved not only collects ID information but also allegedly uses it to create fake IDs.
According to Gonzales, he was informed of similar incidents were two female Chinese nationals were apprehended due to ID-buying activities in other parts of Bacolod.
While authorities in Bacolod Police Station 4 questioned a Chinese-Filipino mall stall owner in June, a lack of complainants prevented them from detaining her. Captain Depasucat clarified that the woman is a Filipino national who speaks Ilonggo and Tagalog, and her explanation was that she was registering residents for e-wallets.
