The Senate’s investigation into all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)-related crimes will continue even after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. issued the directive to ban all POGOs in the country, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Tuesday, July 23.
“Walang dahilan para hindi ipagpatuloy yun dahil garantiya yun na maisasakatuparan ang sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos kahapon sa SONA na banned na ang POGO at magwa-wind down na lang yung nananatiling ligal na POGO (There’s no reason why the probe should stop because that would guarantee that President Marcos’ directive yesterday during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) would be carried out and all POGOs would be banned and the remaining legal POGOs would have to wind down their operations,” Escudero said in a press briefing.
Escudero noted the government is now gearing up to help the Filipinos employed in POGO companies find new employment.
At the same time, the Senate leader said there is no need for the President to issue an executive order (EO) for such a directive.
“No (there’s no need). An order suffices. Hindi EO ang nag-legalize ng POGO, hindi AO ang naglegalize ng POGO, hindi batas ang naglegalize ng POGO. Lisensiya na inissue ng Pagcor ang naglegalize diyan (POGO was not legalized through an EO, it was not legalized through an administrative order, no law legalized POGO. It was only a license issued by the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. that legalized their operations),” the senator pointed out.
“Kaya ang pag-ban diyan ay pagbawi lang ng lisensiyang binigay ng Pagcor ang kinakailangang gawin (That’s why banning POGOs is only by way of revoking the license issued by Pagcor),” he stressed.
Escudero said Pagcor chief Alejandro Tengco has no choice but to automatically follow the presidential directive.
“Walang choice dahil coterminous and serves at the pleasure of the President ang Pagcor Chairman so obligado siyang sumunod at wala akong nakikitang dahilan para hindi siya sumunod (The Pagcor chairman has no choice because he is coterminous and serves at the pleasure of the President so he is obligated to follow and I see no reason for him not to follow the directive),” the Senate chief said.
More commendations from senators
On Tuesday, more senators lauded the President’s issuance of a directive banning POGOs in the country.
Sen. Loren Legarda said a ban on POGOs is tantamount to standing firm against human trafficking and national security threats.
“The proliferation of POGOs in the country has escalated concerns over human trafficking, various criminal activities, and significant national security risks. The bold move of the President to ban all POGO operations sends a clear message—our nation will not tolerate fake citizenship, human trafficking, torture, money laundering, and other crimes associated with POGOs,” Legarda said.
While POGOs have created jobs, Legarda said these cannot justify the illegal activities hidden beneath their facade of employment opportunities and economic contributions.
“Recent probes have revealed alarming instances of human trafficking associated with POGO operations. I have been at the forefront of anti-trafficking since my second term in the Senate, as exemplified by my authorship of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the first anti-trafficking law in Southeast Asia, and its expanded version. I have been vocal about my stance against POGOs even before the recent issues on illegal offshore gaming in Tarlac surfaced,” the former Senate president pro tempore said.
She said the Philippines cannot afford to be a haven for abusive entities, ”like these POGOs that put the welfare and safety of Filipinos at risk.”
“The exploitation must end,” Legarda stressed.
“However, while we call for the abolition of illegal activities, we must ensure that the welfare of 25,064 Filipino workers, as reported by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is safeguarded. I have high confidence in the President's guidance that DOLE can provide income alternatives and effective transition mechanisms for these workers to support their livelihoods and uphold our commitment to social justice and economic stability,” she stressed.
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito also lauded Marcos’ decision to ban POGOs in the Philippines and urged the government to have a clear plan to support the workers who would be affected.
“We must have a clear plan to support those affected and ease the transition,” Ejercito said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada also expressed his full support on the President’s decision to ban POGOs.
“This decisive action, prompted by the negative impacts of POGO operations, is crucial for maintaining social order and safeguarding the welfare of our citizens,” Estrada said.
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., an ally of the Marcos administration, also praised the President’s strong pronouncement against POGOs in the country during his SONA.
“The grandest of it all, total ban on POGO. The President knows what is best for the Filipino people. He knows how to protect the country. And we applaud him for leading our nation,” Revilla said.
For his part, Sen. Joel Villanueva urged Pagcor to promptly enforce the President’s directive.
“POGO's days are numbered! We thank the President for heeding the people's voices, for carefully analyzing sound data, and for concluding that POGO has no rightful place in our society,” Villanueva said.
“We agree with the President's statement that "evil triumphs when good men do nothing. Thus, we continue to call for the prohibition not only of POGOs but all forms of online gambling in the country,” he said.