Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda has assailed the Department of Finance's (DOF) assertion that the kidnapping incidents allegedly linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) could have an adverse effect on foreign direct investments (FDIs) flowing into the country.

According to Salceda, making a correlation between the reported kidnappings and FDI was “a facile approach” to the ongoing POGO issue.

“There are far more factors that affect the flow of ” the economist-solon said during a recent public hearing of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, adding that the ease of doing business and electricity costs were far more significant concerns for potential investors.

"With respect to the crimes... the supposed crimes attributed to POGO, there are enough laws," Salceda, the House Committee on Ways and Means chairman, said.

He argued that if the justification for shutting down POGOs were the incidents of crime attributed to the POGO industry, then other industries that attract illegal activity should likewise be shut down.

“Will I close all the PEZA (Philiipine Economic Zone Authority) because there’s a lot of smuggling happening there? No!” underscored the veteran legislator.

“Will I close all the red light districts because there’s prostitution and other forms of crime happening there... there’s a higher concentration... far higher than the one to 100,000 that is being spoken about? Then let’s close all the red light districts!" he added to drive home his point.

“With respect to the direct correlation... between kidnapping of one to 100,000 vis-a-vis FDI,” said Salceda, “I think that should be reviewed.”

DOF Undersecretary Maria Cielo Magno had earlier told the House panel that they had concerns with regard to POGO-related crimes, as these “can have an effect on ".

Citing a study she did not name, the DOF official said that one crime incidence in every 100,000 population could result in a decrease of GDP by 1 percent.