The operation of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) was modeled in order to provide additional the revenues for the country, however the system from which their workings were based and structured allowed abuse and corruption thus resulting to a dismal contribution of at least 0.2 percent to the gross domestic product in 2023, below the 0.3 percent in 2022, and way lower than the 0.7 percent in 2019 when it peaked.
While the intention of the economic team of former president Rodrigo Duterte is to raise additional income to fund several ambitious infrastructure projects of the administration, the mindset of those implementing it is suspiciously plain and simple – that is ensuring a personal income stream to fund political machineries and personal gains to stay or perpetuate them in power.
The proof? The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is now proposing measures that could have been implemented to prevent the abuses of the system and ensure that no illegal POGOs could operate in the country. How come PAGCOR and the legislators who investigated the more controversial Pogo in Bamban, Tarlac suggested such measures just now? They are the same PAGCOR officials and legislators during the reign of Duterte. Are they trying to impose upon every Filipino that they just had these realizations today and they were clueless during the past administration?
Duterte and his men were instrumental in allowing POGOs in the country. He was the puppet of the Chinese government having surrendered the sovereignty of the country to China by becoming submissive on the country’s claim in the West Philippine Sea. It was during his term when Chinese citizens were able to secure Filipino passports. He may have not had a direct hand on it but no investigations were made except for a few anti-illegal drugs operations which yielded Chinese nationals as suspects. POGOs and illegal POGOs proliferated and no sensible raids were made to check on the illegal operations. In short, the rule at the time is simple, everybody must be happy.
Fast forward today, the economic managers of the country must project the economic contribution of the POGOs and its value to the nation’s GDP vis a vis the risks associated with it.
Given the ever increasing tension between the Philippines and China at the West Philippine Sea, the presence of Pogos especially Chinese citizens in the country poses a huge security risk one could ever imagine. It’s a matter of income versus national security. If ever these POGOs are allowed to continue, stringent rules must be implemented and harsh punishments must come with any infractions made. Afterall, these violations and abuses are not just about the operators as they come only second to those who are providing them protections.
