Senator Risa Hontiveros commended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his directive to ban all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the country.
“Isang napakalaking tagumpay ito para sa buong bansa… [T]o all POGOs — legal o illegal — goodbye,” said Hontiveros, who chairs the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which is investigating several illegal POGOs in the Philippines.
The lawmaker pointed out that POGOs have brought “innumerable and unspeakable social ills” into the country.
“Mahalagang umpisa ito sa isang mahabang hakbang para mapanagot ang mga nagpapasok at nagpahintulot sa paglaganap ng mga krimeng dala ng POGO sa ating bansa,” she said.
“Our Senate hearings will continue to demand accountability. We will also continue to ensure that we strengthen policies that would prevent industries like POGOs from ever emerging again.”
During his third annual report on Monday, July 22, Marcos Jr. instructed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporatation to end all POGO operations “by the end of the year.”
The President also ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development and his economic managers to find jobs for Filipino POGO workers who will be affected by the ban.IMT
