A former government official said that if left unchecked, the people behind Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) could pose a major threat to the entrenched power of political dynasties in the country.
Former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares believes that political families could have perceived POGOs not just as a social issue but as a serious political threat to their established control.
She pointed to the case of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo of Tarlac as a clear example of how POGO money can influence and reshape the local political landscape.
“Politicians may have felt the need to shut down POGOs before it's too late,” she said in an interview with Manila Bulletin.
Henares noted that many of today's politicians began their careers as government contractors who once enjoyed the support of established political families.
She said that many government contractors rose to power today by betraying their former supporters.
"Previously, politicians relied on intermediaries to manage their relationships with contractors. Now, contractors have taken charge of the town and its projects," Henares explained.
"If politicians today continue to permit the operation of POGOs, there is a real risk that these operators could eventually seize power from them," she said.
President Marcos received a standing ovation and enthusiastic applause from the audience, primarily composed of politicians, after announcing the ban on POGOs during his State of the Nation Address on Monday.