ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (Contributed photo)

Riding the wave of anti-Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) sentiments in the House of Representatives, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro filed on Tuesday morning, June 11 a bill that sought to outlaw the industry in the country. 

If enacted, Castro's House Bill (HB) No.10525, will prohibit and criminalize the operations of POGOs, which have been linked to criminal activity. 

The proposed "Anti-POGO Act" declares it the policy of the State to ban POGOs, which have "increasingly become a social menace and a source of unimaginable corruption". 

Castro, a deputy minority leader and member of the Makabayan bloc, claimed that  POGOs have been "mocking Philippine laws against money laundering, immigration violations, tax evasion, and other criminal offenses". 

"POGOs have brought with them a swarm of crimes as testified by countless police raids - rape, murder, illegal recruitment, human trafficking, prostitution, illegal detention, inhumane labor practices, money laundering, and immigration bribery, among many others," she stated. 

"Their supposed economic benefits have also been negligible compared to the social costs they have inflicted on our people and communities. It is high time we put a stop to this social menace," she added, echoing the sentiments of her House colleagues. 

Earlier calling for a ban on POGOs--which proliferated during the previous Duterte administration--were majority congressmen Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. 

Castro said HB No.10525 will also cover Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation's (Pagcor) new name for POGO, which is IGL or Internet Gaming Licensee. 

"May bagong cri-neate ata na pangalan ng POGO ang Pagcor. Kasama yun sa iba-ban natin kapag ito ay naipasa na," she said. 

(I think Pagcor created a new name for POGO. We will also have that banned once this is enacted.) 

The bill revokes all licenses granted to POGOs, and makes POGO operations a predicate crime to money laundering and human trafficking offenses. 

It imposes penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and P10 million in fines. 

It also prohibits agencies from issuing work permits and visas for purposes of offshore gaming, and requires an annual compliance report from responsible agencies. 

Castro was joined by fellow Makabayan solon Reps. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Women's Party) and Raoul Danniel Manuel (Kabataan Party-List) as authors of the measure. 

"We call on our colleagues in Congress to swiftly approve this bill that will protect Filipino families and communities from the proliferation of crimes and social ills brought about by POGOs," said the teacher-solon.