Deputy Minority Leader Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday, November 21 disclosed that some government officials are practically coaching Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) on how they can circumvent the industry ban by registering as Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms.
Hontiveros said such strategy is just one of the many being used by POGO firms despite the President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s issuance of Executive Order No. 74, ordering their closure.
“Masyado silang malikhain. Gumagawa ng paraan na mag-iba ng identity. Yung iba, nagkukunwari ng simpleng at legal na BPOs lamang sila (They are very creative. They are creating a way to change their identity. The others pretend to be simple and legal BPOs),” Hontiveros said during a Kapihan sa Senado forum.
“Yung mga sumbong sa amin, may mga government officials pa na nagpapayo sa kanila ng ganon, ‘ah magbago na lang kayo ng porma at least legally, bilang mga simple BPO's lamang.’ Pero nakatago sa loob nun ay mga POGO operations pa rin (It was reported to us that there were government officials advising them to do that, saying you should change form at least legally, as simple BPOs. But within it are still POGO operations),” she said.
However, these informants, she said, did not identify the names of the government officials.
Nevertheless, Hontiveros said she hopes that EO 74 was not issued to favor certain parties like the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority or CEZA which is authorized by law to issue offshore gaming licensees to interactive gaming (iGaming) operators.
“I hope na walang pinaboran dun sa pag-draft at pag-issue ng EO. Dahil naalala ko nung una kong itinanong bakit mukhang may loophole para sa mga tulad ng CEZA makalusot sa ban on POGOs (I hope no one was favored when the EO was drafted and issued. Because I remember, I initially asked why there seems to be a loophole for those part of CEZA that can evade the ban on POGOs),” she pointed out.
“Nilinaw naman kaagad ni Executive Secretary (Lucas) Bersamin na ay hindi kasama sila. In fact, meron kaming hiwalay pang issuance mula sa Office of the President o Office of the ES, particular para sa CEZA (But Executive Secretary Bersamin clarified that they are not included. But in fact, there is a separate issuance from the Office of the President or Office of the Executive Secretary, particularly for those in CEZA),” she said.
“So hopefully, walang balak o nagkatoong pinaboran (no one was favored). Pero it still stands to reason na merong gaps at merong mga malalabo pa dun sa current na formulation ng EO (that there are gaps and vague areas in the current formulation of the EO).
“So sana, iwasto nila, linawin nila, whether dun sa aktual na EO or sa paglabas ng dagdag pang EO para wala talagang lusot yung mga POGO sa anumang forma, sa anumang pangalan para sa kanilang patuloy na operasyon (So I hope they correct it, or clarify it, whether in the actual EO or in the additional EO, so that no POGO firm can evade it on whatever form or name and continue their operations),” she further said.
Under the President’s EO 74, all POGOs should cease operations and closed shop by December 31, 2024.