Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The recent high-profile abduction of a 14-year-old Chinese student in Manila gives all the more reason for Congress to pass pending legislation that would permanently ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Thus, said Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr., one of the co-chairmen of the vaunted quad-committee (quad-comm) in the House of Representatives.

"The President made the right decision in declaring a ban on POGOs, but we must ensure that this policy cannot be easily reversed by future administrations," the longtime anti-gambling advocate said in a statement Thursday, Feb. 27.

"Without a law in place, there is always a risk that these POGOs will be allowed back in, bringing with them the same lawlessness, corruption, and crime that we have already seen," he said.

Abante, one of the principal authors of House Bill No. 10987, or the Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act—a measure seeking to prohibit POGOs in the Philippines—pointed to the latest reports of kidnappings linked to the industry as further proof that POGOs are a breeding ground for criminal syndicates.  

"The latest kidnapping case is just another example of how POGOs go hand in hand with organized crime in our country. From human trafficking to financial fraud, prostitution rings to drug-related offenses—this industry has done nothing but harm our people," he said.  

The Manila solon cited findings from law enforcement agencies that showed a direct link between POGOs and a wave of violent crimes, including the case of the 14-year-old foreigner.

The kidnappers, a group of former POGO operators and their hired security personnel, brutally murdered the victim’s driver, severed the student’s fingertip, and demanded ransom before ultimately abandoning the child after being pursued by authorities.  

"This is not an isolated case," Abante warned. 

"The DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) has confirmed that every single kidnapping incident recorded this year involved foreigners linked to POGO operations. We cannot allow this cycle of crime to continue."  

Abante said that the quad-comm hearings last year "have made it clear that POGOs are not just an economic issue, they are a peace and order issue". 

"This is not about regulation, because evidence already proves that POGOs are ungovernable. POGO regulation is impossible; they are inherently criminal and must be eliminated," he said. 

"If we are serious about public safety and national security, we must shut POGOs out for good. We have the opportunity to do what is right, so let's do it and close our doors to POGOs once and for all," he underscored.