The Catholic Church joined the calls to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) in the country because it brings serious threats and harm to Filipinos.
Former Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan said in a pastoral letter that it’s time to end the POGO industry.
He said the serious threats and harm POGOs bring far outweigh any promised benefits of allowing them to operate in the country.
“The recent raids that revealed the extent of the evil at these POGO hubs including incidences of human trafficking and torture and money laundering make it a moral imperative that no longer should they be granted the protection of the law and that they, in fact, should be outlawed,” Villegas said.
POGOs are Chinese-run online gaming companies serving customers abroad, which grew in the Philippines during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.
Calls to ban POGOs have come up again due to increased reports of the industry being linked to serious crimes like kidnapping, human trafficking, and murder.
Some government officials also want to stop POGO operations after authorities raided large illegal gambling hubs in Tarlac and Pampanga.
Alejandro Tengco, the head of the state gaming regulator Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), said in a news report that around 250 to 300 POGOs were operating in the Philippines without a license. This is six times more than the 46 legal operators.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline CBCP supports total ban of harmful POGOs