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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Declare Philippines' 'freedom' from POGOs, Barbers urges Marcos 

Declare Philippines' 'freedom' from POGOs, Barbers urges Marcos 

Published Jun 11, 2024 10:37 am

At A Glance

  • Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers is prodding President Marcos ahead of Independence Day to declare the country's "freedom" from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO). 

20240611_182927.jpgSurigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (MANILABULLETIN)

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers is prodding President Marcos ahead of Independence Day to declare the country’s "freedom" from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO).

Barbers, in a statement Tuesday afternoon, June 11, said the Chief Executive can do so by announcing a ban on these controversial POGOs.

"As we commemorate our Independence Day, I am hopeful that the President will heed the call of the legislators and their constituents who continue to fall victims to these illegal establishments whose unexplained resources are obviously being used to bribe our government employees and officials, sowing chaos and destroying our society and our nation’s morality," Barbers said.

“It is time to put an end to this nightmare," added the chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.

“POGOs are banned in China, yet we continue to give them safe haven and sanctuary in our country. Worse, criminal syndicates only use these POGOs as fronts for their gruesome and illegal activities,” Barbers said.

Calls to outright ban POGOs in the country are gaining ground in the House of Representatives.

The main reason for House members' disenchantment with POGOs are the various criminal activities that the operators have been linked to. The solons claimed that these outweigh the economic benefits of the industry, which underwent a boom period during the previous Duterte administration.

“There is no redeeming value in POGOs. We should not waste a minute more in closing them, totally and completely," Barbers said.

The Mindanaoan further likened POGOs to a "gangrenous toe" that "we should cut it from our body before it kills us".

"Let us not allow our gains as a free republic to be destroyed by an alien culture of crime and gambling. If we love our country, we should break free from the bondage that is POGO,” said the Nacionalista Party (NP) stalwart.

The Philippines will mark its 126th Independence Day celebration on Wednesday, June 12.

Related Tags

Independence Day Robert Ace Barbers POGO President Marcos
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