House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

A proposed law seeking to banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) breezed through the House Committee on Games and Amusements on Tuesday, Nov. 19. 

Approved by members of the Cavite 6th district Rep. Antonio Ferrer-chaired panel was House Bill (HB) No.10987, or the proposed Act prohibiting all forms of offshore gaming operations in the country and providing penalties for violation thereof. 

Authored by Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr., HB No.10987 got the committee’s nod in consolidation with four other bills. 

The panel convened on Tuesday to discuss the various bills that sought to ban offshore gaming in the country. 

Just two hours into the hearing, Cavite 5th district Rep. Roy Loyola made a motion. 

"After hearing the position of all the resource speakers for today's hearing, everybody agreed to support the banning if of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation, I move that we approve House Bill (HB) No.10987, in consolidation with HB Nos. 5082, 10525, 10636, and 10725, subject to style," he said. 

"Likewise I move to approve the committee report on the same," Loyola added. Ferrer carried the motion after he heard no objections from the other members. 

Loyola made a similar motion an hour earlier--something that was supported by fellow majority congressman, Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop. 

"I don't know if the resource persons will object to these measures, simply because the President has already spoken, and what the President says regarding the issue becomes a policy statement of the nation," Acop said. 

The Antipolo solon was referring to President Marcos' pronouncement in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July wherein he called for a total ban on POGOs. 

Malacañang followed this up on Nov. 5 with a directive, embodied in Executive Order (EO) No.74, imposing an immediate ban on offshore and internet gaming in the country. It cited the societal risks linked to the indusry as reason for the ban. 

Gonzales filed HB No.10987 a few weeks earlier, on Oct. 11. 

However, Loyola's first motion was temporarily set aside to allow the attending resource persons from various agencies like the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)--just to name a few--to give their inputs. 

"I have no objection Mr. Chair. Pasensya na po kayo, ang training ko po sa military, kung ano po ang sabihin ng aming Presidente at commander-in-chief, we follow and obey," said Acop, a retired brigadier general. 

(I'm sorry, it's just that my training with the military is that we follow and obey whatever our President and commander-in-chief says.) 

"Correct," Ferrer replied. 
 

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"Actually, ang sabi ng Presidente nga (the President said), there's no need for legislation. Pero (But) we deemed it best to come up with this," said the chairman. 

"Ang position naman ng ating ano (Our position here) is for it to advance yung ating legislative solution, to strengthen the enforcement efforts and protect our communities," added Ferrer.

As expected, representatives of the agencies expressed their backing of the measures.

More importantly, DOLE  told the solons that it will help in transition programs for Filipino workers who will be rendered jobless by the POGO ban.

"The DOLE stands ready to support government efforts in connection with the displaced Filipino workers of POGOs, through its existing set of programs and interventions," said the agency's representative.

POGOs proliferated under the previous Duterte administration. It has since been associated with various criminal activity, including murder, kidnapping, and torture.