Senator Cynthia A. Villar wants the operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the Philippines banned.
Villar said the China-based POGO has brought into the country its employees from neighboring countries and criminal elements came with them.
‘'In the same manner na pinatigil natin ang e-sabong, sana maipatigil din ang POGO for security of the Philippines (In the same manner that the government was able to stop e-sabong (cockfighting), I hope that POGO operations should be banned for security reasons),’’ she explained.
Police authorities said that these undesirable elements have caused a rise in kidnappings, acts of violence, extortion and even murder with POGO workers as victims.
‘’Gusto ko rin (sana) ang POGO dahil sa employment but kung magpapatayan naman sila dito at ia-attract natin ay sydnicates eh delikado yun. Di ba? (I want POGO because of employment it engenders but there are killings and it attracts the syndicates),’’ Villar said.
‘’Magiging unsafe ang Philippines (The Philippines will become unsafe),’’ she added.
‘’Gusto mo ba na kumita tayo sa POGO or safe ka? Syempre mas gusto natin na safe tayo di ba (Do you want POGO or do you want to be safe?). Naturally, we want to be safe),’’ she added.
Villar said Chinese President Xi Jingping is against POGO because he sees it as a money laundering conduit.
So, Xi stopped his countrymen from coming to the Philippines, she pointed out.
‘’Eh ngayon ang mga POGO natin kumukuha na sa ibang bansa ng kanilang mga empleyado (Our POGOs get its workers from other countries). Eh kasama rin yun mga ano, syndicate (And with them comes syndicates). Nagpapapatay pa ng mga tao (And they kill [people),’’ she added.
‘’Kaya siguro medyo mayroong problema ang POGO ngayon (That is why we have problems caused by POGO operations),’’ she said.