Sotto: Review benefits, drawbacks of POGO
Published Mar 7, 2020 12:00 am
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Saturday told the executive department to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) industry.
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III
(Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN) In a radio interview, the Senate chief said that while he initially supported the shutdown of POGOs, he said he still maintains a "conservative" stand about the proliferation of overseas gambling businesses in the country. "Dapat pag-aralan muna nating mabuti, ang iligal tanggalin na agad. 'Yong legal, may permit, dapat i-review mabuti (We should first study its effects, but we should immediately remove the illegal ones. Those operating legally should be reviewed carefully)," he told DWIZ radio. Sotto said the Department of Finance should be tasked to lead the government's review of the impacts of POGOs. "Kung maliit lang ang napapala eh, putulin na lahat 'yan (If we are getting only little, then let's just cut them off)," he said. Separate Senate investigations resulted in the discovery of illegal activities related to POGOs, including legal POGO operations' violations of the country's labor and tax laws. Law enforcement agencies also attested to the increase of crimes related to POGOs. National security officials are also validating reports about the presence of Chinese soldiers in the country under the guise of working in POGOs. Despite this, Malacañang said Duterte still needs a "comprehensive" basis to order the suspension or shutdown of the POGO industry. Sotto, however, said the executive branch should act to address the issues arising from POGOs, saying it would be faster than crafting a piece of legislation regulating or declaring it illegal. "Pwede kami gumawa ng batas pero katakot-takot na debate 'yon, baka marami pa mag-lobby (We can craft a law but it would have to undergo tedious debates, several groups might also lobby against it)," he said. "Kung gusto ng executive department, isang order lang 'yan (If the executive department really wants to solve this, it could just issue an order)."
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III(Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN) In a radio interview, the Senate chief said that while he initially supported the shutdown of POGOs, he said he still maintains a "conservative" stand about the proliferation of overseas gambling businesses in the country. "Dapat pag-aralan muna nating mabuti, ang iligal tanggalin na agad. 'Yong legal, may permit, dapat i-review mabuti (We should first study its effects, but we should immediately remove the illegal ones. Those operating legally should be reviewed carefully)," he told DWIZ radio. Sotto said the Department of Finance should be tasked to lead the government's review of the impacts of POGOs. "Kung maliit lang ang napapala eh, putulin na lahat 'yan (If we are getting only little, then let's just cut them off)," he said. Separate Senate investigations resulted in the discovery of illegal activities related to POGOs, including legal POGO operations' violations of the country's labor and tax laws. Law enforcement agencies also attested to the increase of crimes related to POGOs. National security officials are also validating reports about the presence of Chinese soldiers in the country under the guise of working in POGOs. Despite this, Malacañang said Duterte still needs a "comprehensive" basis to order the suspension or shutdown of the POGO industry. Sotto, however, said the executive branch should act to address the issues arising from POGOs, saying it would be faster than crafting a piece of legislation regulating or declaring it illegal. "Pwede kami gumawa ng batas pero katakot-takot na debate 'yon, baka marami pa mag-lobby (We can craft a law but it would have to undergo tedious debates, several groups might also lobby against it)," he said. "Kung gusto ng executive department, isang order lang 'yan (If the executive department really wants to solve this, it could just issue an order)."