POGO ban gains solons support
By Nidz Godino
"This is important step to curb spread of crimes originating from certain POGO companies," Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said ten of 18 members of Senate ways and means committee have signed committee report recommending ban of Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs, development he said could help maintain peace and order and sustain economic growth in the country.
Aside from Gatchalian, chairs panel, Senate President Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Senators Ronald dela Rosa, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Grace Poe, Raffy Tulfo, Pia Cayetano and Risa Hontiveros also signed Committee Report No. 136.
Some senators indicated intention to interpellate in plenary.
Gatchalian said committee report, seeks to ban POGOs, would be reported out to plenary for deliberation.
He stressed senators would just deliberate phase-out period, whether immediately or within three months, although he said he is personally calling for immediate ban.
With filing of committee report, senator said country would realize sooner than later removal of POGOs.
"It's clear from data we have gathered in recent months criminals are utilizing POGOs to engage in various crimes, including human trafficking, as well as various investments such as cryptocurrency and love scams," he added.
In signing committee report, Pimentel, Ejercito and Hontiveros would interpellate and introduce amendments. Cayetano would interpellate and Tulfo would seek amendment to include Philippine inland gaming operations and other forms of online gaming.
"For almost three years now, I have been calling for POGOs to be kicked out of the country," Hontiveros said.
"So we fully support Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian in committee report to ban POGOs forever... I have always believed total ban on POGO is right and just… I hope it gets through Congress soon…if we got anything out of it, it was nothing compared to disaster they have caused…no one will regret it when we drive them out, finally," she added.
Opposition senator stressed POGOs only brought in the country crimes and lewdness against women.
"We ourselves in Senate committee on women have investigated their involvement in prostitution, corruption, especially in 'pastillas scam,' human trafficking and recently, POGOs are also being equipped as legal cover for scam hubs," she said.
Ejercito signed committee report with marginal notes to clarify that he is "not for POGO and just wants to soften impact of its cancellation by phase-out instead."
"I am for two- to three-year phase-out so as not to create bad perception that legislature made POGO legal only to withdraw after few years abruptly…we would seek amendment, perception would be inconsistency in policies in international community," he said.
Senator said wants legal POGOs to be given phase-out period, but illegal ones, which are cause of crimes, should be banned immediately.
"There has to be preparation for those who will be displaced to have alternative employment and businesses related to POGOs to find alternative markets or businesses, like real estate and others as well…cancelling them abruptly might have consequences on various industries related to it," he added.
Gatchalian noted impact of phase-out of POGOs from Philippine economy is not that significant, but crimes related to POGOs, especially human trafficking and scams, damage image and reputation of the country.
He said his fellow senators were apparently convinced to support phase-out of POGO with series of scam problems among Filipinos, saying POGOs appear to be connected with scamming.
"POGOs have become front… scams we see and POGOs are same…as long as POGOs are here, there is scam going on. .. human trafficking going on," he added.
Citing report from Philippine National Police (PNP), Gatchalian said total number of victims of POGO-related crimes had already reached 4,355, total of 903 perpetrators were recorded from January 2017 to June 30 this year.
Crimes committed in such incidents include human trafficking, forcible abduction, homicide, illegal detention, kidnapping-for-ransom, theft, robbery-extortion, serious physical injuries, swindling and grave coercion, according to PNP.
Over past months, Gatchalian had steadfastly advocated for closure of POGOs, maintaining that any revenue derived from industry is not worth massive social costs associated with POGO-related crimes.
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