MANILA — Efforts to prohibit Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) within the country have made progress in the House of Representatives, as a committee recently approved two measures on the issue.
The House committee on games and amusement, led by Cavite 6th District Representative Antonio Ferrer, approved House Bill 5082 and House Resolution 1197. Representative Rufus Rodriguez from the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro City, the author of HR 1197, expressed the view that POGOs should be prohibited.
“The POGOs form part of a multibillion gambling industry, contributing revenues to the country but it has also been allegedly used for illegal activities such as money laundering, illegal immigration and employment, kidnapping and other violent criminal cases,” he said during yesterday’s resumption of the hearing on POGO operations.
He pointed out that during the initial half of 2023, the Philippine National Police documented 4,039 victims involved in four crimes associated with POGOs.
“This is one reason I would say whatever have been the benefits a (POGO has) accrued to our country, it has produced graver concerns and problems of peace and order. POGO has inflicted on our people the other undesired results – prostitution,” he added.
On the contrary, the state gaming regulator is resisting the prohibition of POGOs. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) argues that the current POGOs are distinct from those operating under the previous administration.
“The reforms that we have instituted have resulted in positive gains. The crimes and other criminal activities mentioned by Cong. Rodriguez have definitely been addressed,” PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco told the panel.
Tengco highlighted that it’s not just Chinese companies, but also firms from other nations, that are engaged in POGOs in the Philippines. Currently, there are 75 POGO license holders, some of which have incorporators based in Malaysia, Singapore, and Europe.
In 2023, PAGCOR declared the licenses of all POGO service providers as probationary, aiming to encourage them to reapply for their licenses.
