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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Duterte: POGO operations are clean; we need their revenues to fund gov't programs

Duterte: POGO operations are clean; we need their revenues to fund gov't programs

Published Mar 10, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling The country's offshore gaming operations are "clean" and generate huge revenues for the government and employment for Filipinos, President Duterte said Tuesday night. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) The President made the latest pronouncement to defend his decision to allow the booming Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) to continue operating in the country. "Gaya ng POGO, I will assure you under my oath of office as President of this Republic as elected by you, 'yan POGO na 'yan in so far kami dito -- malinis 'yan (The POGOs are clean)," he said at an assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines in Pasay City. Duterte claimed the offshore gaming services generate P2 billion a month in revenues for the government, and that thousands of local jobs have also been generated by the gaming industry. "Laro 'yan para lang sa kabila, pero it employs something like 20,000 dito sa Manila. Dito lang 'yan POGO. Walang pera diyan. Diretso sa PAGCOR. They talk with PAGCOR (That's the game of the other side but it employs something like 20,000 in Manila. POGOS are here in Manila. There is no money there. It goes straight to PAGCOR)," he said. PAGCOR -- the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation – is the government agency that licences POGOs. The President earlier refused to suspend or shut down POGO operations in the country despite allegations of crimes and illegal activities related to the industry, citing the revenues collected. He also insisted that there was no corruption in the operations as alleged by some groups. He added that they obtained a list of bank deposits that showed no proof of money laundering linked to these POGOs. In his remarks Tuesday, Duterte explained that the government needs the revenues from the POGOs to bankroll programs, including healthcare projects for government troops as well as other indigent Filipinos. "Why? Because it gives us P2 billion a month," he said. Watch:
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