Voters urged: Don't vote for candidates associated with POGOs
At A Glance
- Manila 1st district Rep. Ernix Dionisio is urging voters not to elect candidates who are associated with Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
Manila 1st district Rep. Ernix Dionisio is urging voters not to elect candidates who are associated with Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
Dionisio said such political aspirants are "trying to get in the government" so they can protect the illegal activities of POGOs that are now banned across the country.
"If you would see, ang daming tumatakbo. Gusto makapasok sa pamahalaan para proteksyunan na naman ‘yung mga illegal na gawain nila (Many are now running for government positions. They want to enter the government so they can protect their illegal activities)," he said in a press conference on Monday, Feb. 24.
Dionisio said he commended President Marcos for banning POGOs, although the public's help through choosing the right leaders is more important to ensure that they no longer exist.
He also believed that Marcos' move to prohibit POGOs prompted the country's removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)'s money laundering gray list.
Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Adiong said the House quad-committee's (quad-comm) inquiry into POGOs and criminal activities associated with them is another factor that hastened the country’s removal from the FATF watchlist.
“We we were able to unearth 'yung mga cobwebs ng lahat ng mga sophisticated na networkings ng mga illegal operators ng POGO dito. At least nakadagdag 'yun (We were able to unearth the cobwebs of the sophisticated networks of illegal POGO operators here. It's one of the factors)," Adiong said.