'Whole-of-government approach' needed to address POGO issues -- DOJ
A whole-of-government approach is needed to address the issues involving the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Thursday, June 13.
In a television interview, Justice Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez pointed out the need of a whole-of-government approach amids the ongoing raids of POGOs which have been found engaged in criminal activities including human trafficking, scams, prostitution, and violence.
“Not only the sole concern of the LGUs (local government units) or the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority), or the DOJ or PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) itself, everybody is on-board currently," he added.
He stressed that it is “high time for government to really take a serious look at the pros and cons of the POGO industry itself.”
He said the things the government should consider include “social cost, public safety, national security even, because many are suspecting that many of these Chinese who are there may have national security issues.”
"This is high time now to check whether or not the advantages outweigh the serious and grave social cost and public safety consequences of the POGO industry," he reiterated.