Senator Risa Hontiveros said the social costs brought about by the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to the Philippines can no longer justify their presence in the country.

Hontiveros reiterated her position on POGOs a day after the Senate Committee on Ways and Means conducted an inquiry on the economic impact of the POGO industry.

As one of the members of the Senate minority bloc in the 18th Congress, Hontiveros said she is one of the lawmakers who voted against the enactment into law of Republic Act 11590 or the law creating a tax treatment of POGOs.

“Kasama ang mga dating myembro ng minority (together with the former members of the minority), we voted NO to the law creating a tax regime for POGOs. Mula noon, hanggang ngayon, hindi rin ako nagsasawang ipanawagan na palayasin na nang tuluyan ang mga POGO na yan (Since then, until now, I will not give up in calling on the government to fully reject all POGOs),” she said.

Hontiveros pointed out that crimes related to the POGO industry range from corruption, prostitution, and human trafficking.

But worse, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is alarmed to find out the alleged spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among foreign POGO workers.

“Saan magpapatingin at magpapagamot ang mga empleyadong nahawa ng STDs o anumang sakit? Saan sila magpapagamot? Sa mga illegal na clinic na naman na nabisto na natin nung panahon ng Covid? Paano natin masisigurado na hindi na yan lalala o kakalat pa? (Where will these employees who contracted STDs go for medical check up? Where will they seek medical attention? Are they going to illegal clinics that were raided during the COVID-19 pandemic? How can we make sure that this won’t spread)?” she pointed out.

“Ginulo na nga nila ang ekonomiya at seguridad ng bansa, dinagdagan pa nila ang bigat sa ating health system habang nakikipagpatintero tayo sa pandemya (They messed our country’s economy and security, and now they are an added burden to our health system while we are still trying to recover from the pandemic),” she stressed.

Hontiveros said the government should not allow the POGO industry to thrive in the country considering China itself has declared them illegal.

“Matagal na nating napagkasunduan sa Senado na yung online na sugal, tulad ng ginagawa ng mga POGO e hindi naman magandang investment, much less Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) na gusto nating palaguin (We have long agreed in the Senate that online gambling, like what the POGOs are doing are not a good investment, much less FDI that we wish to help grow),” she said.

“Hindi nagbabago ang aking posisyon ukol dito (My position here doesn’t change). The social costs can no longer justify their presence here. Inuulit ko: Palayasin na natin nang tuluyan ang mga POGO (I repeat: let’s drive away the POGOs),” she reiterated.