Senate leaders have supported the stand of Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro to stop illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) from doing business in the country.
Teodoro also earlier said POGOs’ illegal operations in the country have become a national security concern.
Senate President Francis Escudero said he agrees with Teodoro who seems to be referring to illegal POGO operations that ‘do not operate as intended.’
Escudero also that all illegal POGOs should be closed whether they are close to military bases and their perpetrators arrested.
“If, on the other hand, he is also referring to legal POGOs, then I suggest that he discuss this matter of ‘national concern’ with PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) as it may involve national security,” Escudero said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said that aside from security concerns raised on POGO operations near military bases, there are reports of some 250 others operating without licenses. He said this should prompt concerned authorities to conduct a crackdown.
The senator also said PAGCOR should immediately order the closure of illegal or unlicensed POGOs if they have enough information about their illegal operations.
He said the visas of workers of unlicensed POGOs should be canceled and deportation proceedings started immediately.
Senator Loren Legarda also said law enforcement authorities must take drastic action to prevent further criminal elements from using POGOs as fronts and shut them down now.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) meanwhile called for a “whole-of-government” approach to resolve all issues pertaining to POGOs.
DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez made the statement amid varying positions of government officials, lawmakers, and other stakeholders on the proposal to permanently ban POGOs.
A bill has already been filed by lawmakers in the House of Representatives seeking to revoke licenses and ban POGO in the country.
“This is high time now to check whether or not the advantages outweigh the serious and grave social cost and public safety consequences of the POGO industry,” Vasquez said.
According to the DOJ official, the government should consider the social cost, public safety, and national security before coming out with a decision on whether to totally ban POGOs in the country. With Rey E. Requejo
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Senators back possible ban on illegal POGOs”