Nancy alarmed over rising rate of drug trade in casinos
...says gambling sector becoming haven for transnational syndicates

Sen. Nancy Binay expressed alarm over the increasing number of gaming and gambling centers in the country which remained unchecked by law enforcement agencies for drug dealings and other transnational crimes.

Binay filed Senate Resolution No. 539 urging the proper Senate committees to probe the reported drug dealings that make rounds in the gambling circles, mostly in high-end casino hotels.

"Ngayon, ginagamit na ang ilang mga casino at mga gaming center ng mga sindikato. These places have now become convenient hubs where drug deals easily exchange hands. Hindi na kailangan ang cash para magkasarahan ng deal... transactions are done discreetly using chips instead of cash," the lady senator pointed out.

Binay added that it is important that drug enforcement agencies be more efficient, effective and stricter in implementing dangerous drugs laws to prevent the trade of illegal drugs in the country.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confirmed that drug deals are being done in casinos where gaming chips are used to launder dirty money in exchange for drugs.

The lady senator noted that international syndicates and other organized crime groups have already infiltrated casinos in Metro Manila where they carry out their transactions with the help of local counterparts.

Binay said that the PNP and anti-drug enforcers should see the pattern of complex crimes involving drugs, prostitution, high-roller lending operations, loan sharking and money laundering.

"Masalimuot ang operasyon at malinaw na hindi mga Pinoy ang nagpapatakbo nito--there are well-entrenched organized groups behind these underground operations," she added.

The lady senator likewise noted that sometime in December last year, a certain Jerry Sy--an alleged assassin--was arrested at the parking lot of a popular casino in Metro Manila for illegal possession of high-powered firearms and explosives.

Sy was later dismissed by police because he did not have any document to establish his identity.

What is more alarming is that Sy had no passport, no immigration record, no valid ID, no address, no personal records, no next of kin and cannot even speak English.

According to the lady senator, law enforcement authorities should look into cases like these as transnational crimes and dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding similar cases.

"Sy might just be the tip of the iceberg here. Mas nakakabahala 'yung nasa kailalimlaliman ng mga kasong ganito dahil malamang kakabit ito ng mas malaking organisadong sindikato. We need to mobilize our intelligence network otherwise this may become out of hand and evolve into a national security concern," Binay said.