Paolo Romero | September 19, 2022
The matter was a “hot topic” during President Marcos’ birthday celebration with some officials at Malacañang last week, where they agreed that the social costs of having Philippine offshore gaming in the country far outweigh their revenue benefits.
President Marcos is thinking of banning Philippine offshore gaming operator firms, given the spate of kidnappings, corruption and other criminal activities linked to POGOs, Sen. Imee Marcos bared on Sunday, Sept. 18.
The senator, elder sister of the President, said the matter was a “hot topic” during the latter’s birthday celebration with some officials on Sept. 13 at Malacañang, where they agreed that the social costs of POGOs in the country far outweigh their revenue benefits.
“If we cannot regulate (POGOs), then we better stop them. There are now abductions and killings. What’s happening is already sordid and gruesome. They’ve been here for years, and obviously, we could not regulate them,” Marcos told radio station dzBB in Filipino recently.
“It’s embarrassing before the international community that all these are happening – even if they involve Chinese nationals – in our country,” she pointed out.
The government is earning only P4 billion a year, but POGOs are estimated to annually rake in around P50 billion, part of which goes “under the table” or to corruption, according to the senator.
Marcos agreed with the observation of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno that the “reputational and social costs” of POGOs are not worth whatever income the government derives from them.
The senator said the POGOs are considered fugitives of sorts as they are banned by China, and the buildings where they are housed in Cambodia were literally bulldozed following political pressure from Beijing.
Thus, she lamented that the POGOs there found a haven in the Philippines.
Marcos noted that POGOs gained a foothold in her home province of Ilocos Norte some years ago, and they somehow have been able to corrupt some elements of the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Immigration.
Even the Bureau of Customs was not spared as equipment used for credit card scams slipped through the agency.
“We’re low-tech. Suspects have the same names. Even if we wiretap them, we can’t understand the language. We’re at a loss,” Marcos said, referring to efforts of local law enforcement agencies to investigate crimes linked to POGOs.
She added that China earlier made representations to the government regarding POGO operations, but did not press much, given that the country has a gambling regime with agencies like the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
One way to help address POGO-linked crimes, according to the senator, is to coordinate with neighbors in the region, citing that a recent victim of a brazen kidnapping along Skyway that was caught on video involved a Malaysian national.
POGO facility in Pampanga closed down
As this developed, authorities closed down a POGO facility in Angeles City, Pampanga last Saturday afternoon, Sept. 17.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, assisted by Central Luzon Regional Police director Brig. Gen. Cesar Pasiwen, padlocked the Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc. along the Fil-Am Friendship Highway in the city.
The police recently rescued 43 Chinese who were allegedly forced to work at the POGO office.
Abalos said an investigation is still ongoing to check if other officers of the POGO company were working for a human trafficking syndicate targeting Chinese and other foreign nationals while ongoing follow-up operations are conducted to find out if there are similar cases in other POGO facilities.
He commended the police Anti-Kidnapping Group for acting promptly in less than 12 hours after being alerted.
The Central Luzon police are continuously intensifying intelligence efforts amid the reported abduction and human trafficking involving POGOs in Region 3, according to Pasiwen.
He also urged the public to report to authorities illegal activities in their areas. – With Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu
Source: https://www.onenews.ph/articles/marcos-mulls-outlawing-pogos