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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'A big win': Senators laud PBBM's move to ban all POGOs

'A big win': Senators laud PBBM's move to ban all POGOs

Published Jul 22, 2024 11:55 am

Senators hailed President Marcos' declaration to finally end the operations of  Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22.

Before the entire nation, Marcos declared: "Effective today, all POGOs are banned."

"I hereby instruct PAGCOR to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year," the Chief Executive said towards the end of his 82-minute speech.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, considers this a very big thing after leading several hearings over POGOs' illegal activities.

"Napakalaking bagay. Nung patapos na si Presidente sa SONA akala ko hindi na babanggitin yung POGO e. Hindi ako makapaniwala (It's a very huge thing. When the President was about to end the SONA I thought he would not mention POGOs. I couldn't believe it)," said Hontiveros who leads the Senate probe into POGO-related crimes.

"Nakaramdam talaga ako malaking tagumpay ito sa mga babae at bata na nagsumbong at sa mga whistleblower na nagsumbong. Ito'y importanteng tagumpay para sa mamamayan (I really felt that this is a huge win for all the women and children and all whistleblowers who came forward. This is an important win for citizens)," she added.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said that this goes to show that the President listens to the public's sentiments.

"Kinakamayan ko nga siya kanina mahigpit niyang kinamayan ako at sabi nya, 'nakikinig ako ha, pinakikinggan ko kayo (I shook his hand earlier and he held it tight saying 'I listened, I listened to you),'" he said.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero lauded Hontiveros and Gatchalian for their tireless efforts in pursuing this issue.

"Para sa akin, kunin natin kung anong makukuha natin kesa naman magreklamo pa tayo sa bagay na binigay na nga ng Pangulo (For me, let's get what we can from it rather than complain about something that the President already gave)," he said.

Former Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri thanked the President and said that with this development, cases of kidnapping, and trafficking of women and children will start to go down.

"At least, pag banned na yan, pag may nakita tayong mga ganitong nefarious activities, mahuhuli kaagad, maisusumbong agad natin. Di na nila pwedeng sabihing dahil may permit sila pwede silang mag-operate nito. Kung banned, banned na talaga (At least, now that it's banned, when we see such nefarious activities, we can arrest them and we can report them immediately. They can't tell us that they have a permit to operate. Since it's banned, it's truly banned)," he added.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alejandro Tengco said that they now have less than six months to heed the President's directive. 

Tengco added that he was not surprised by the President’s pronouncement.

 

Related Tags

Pagcor Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian Philippine offshore gaming operators Senator Risa Hontiveros President Marcos Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero
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