spot_img
27.8 C
Philippines
Monday, February 17, 2025

Villanueva continues efforts on POGO ban

Senator Joel Villanueva reaffirmed his call to permanently ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, citing staggering economic and social costs.  

“POGO operations continued to grow and their crimes continued to get worse, until the net cost of their continued operations in the country reached P99.52 billion per year, according to the DOF,” Villanueva said. 

- Advertisement -

In a Senate manifestation on Tuesday, Villanueva expressed full support for holding accountable individuals like Guo Hua Ping and her associates, as well as ending all POGO operations.  

The senator has been advocating for a POGO ban since 2016 when his office uncovered corruption at the Bureau of Immigration (BI). 

This investigation led to the arrest of BI Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles for accepting bribes in exchange for the release of Chinese nationals detained during a Clark joint operation.  

Villanueva commended the committee’s efforts but proposed additional measures to strengthen regulations and prevent future abuses. The senator lamented that POGOs have tainted institutions and caused more harm than good. He stressed that their perceived economic benefits are outweighed by their negative impacts on society.  


LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles