For Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the moral damage and criminal effects inflicted by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) do not justify its economic benefits to the country.
“Di naman natin nilalahat, pero ang POGO ang tila naging ‘root of evil’ na naglikha at nagdala ng bisyo at krimen sa ating bansa tulad ng (We’re not generalizing them, but POGO seems to be the ‘root of evil’ which has created vice and crime to our country, including) kidnap for ransom, prostitution, murder, extortion, online scamming such as phishing and e-mail spoofing, illegal drugs, money laundering, human trafficking, graft and corruption,” Barbers–chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs–said in a statement on Monday, Oct. 4.
There has been an uptick in the rescue of POGO employees and foreign nationals from operators. According to reports, these individuals had been victims of human trafficking and forced to work for POGOs.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/30/pnp-saves-29-pogo-employees-from-human-trafficking/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/30/malaysian-33-other-foreign-pogo-workers-rescued-in-muntinlupa/
He also pointed out that the POGO industry had been outlawed in China, the home country of many operators, for similar reasons.
“Reports also indicate that POGO firms, aside from gambling-related crimes they created, have also imported prostitutes that caters only to POGO workers and other foreign nationals. Payag ba tayo na mag-import ng tao at kumpanya na gumagawa ng mga illegal na bagay, at gawing legal ang illegal sa ating bansa kapalit ng pera (Will we allow the import of individuals and companies that perform illegal acts, and legalize the illegal activities in our country all in exchange for money?” the solon posed.
He also cited reports which said that, since 2016, at least 300,000 Chinese tourists had entered the country only to become POGO workers.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) says that there are 34 approved POGOs, and 127 accredited service providers currently operating in the Philippines.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/29/pagcor-defends-legit-pogos/
“The real question here is if the authorized or existing POGO firms and their hundreds of sub-licensees are truthfully paying the right amount of taxes that they and Pagcor promised to deliver to the government,” Barbers concluded.