“The problem can be solved, but it needs the political will of the President with the help of every Filipino”
WHEN I wrote in my last column that the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations problem was far from over despite the total ban of all POGOs by President Marcos Jr., I did not realize to what extent it has reached with all the crimes, including kidnapping with ransom, torture and murder, and the scams, human trafficking, and many more that accompanied them, Santa Banana!
Lawmakers had given the League of Cities and the League of Municipalities a list of no less than 402 illegal POGOs operating nationwide, including their addresses, photographs and incorporators.
These included their illicit operations.
My gulay, these should alarm the President as to the extent POGOs had proliferated and how far they have become a threat to national security.
These were collated by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, which saw the crimes and scams the POGOs had gone into to threaten not only national security but also the well-being of everyone in the country.
The irony of it all is that POGOs are outlawed in China and most of the incorporators are Chinese nationals.
Many of them entered the country illegally.
And yet, there are those who claim that with the ban on POGOs, the government has lost no less than P20 billion in government revenues from taxes paid by POGOs, including permits and licenses, not counting rental of houses and condos by the Chinese involved in POGO operations.
There has been an estimate that no less than 20,000 Chinese would have to be repatriated to China because of the ban.
I would even guess the number could swell to half a million when we include all the POGO illegals.
With what we see in the involvement in POGO operation of Bamban,Tarlac suspended mayor Alice Guo,
I can outright say the involvement of many local executives with POGOs would be far-reaching.
Then, what should be done with the list of 400 plus illegal POGOs operating nationwide?
To me, that’s a real problem that defies solution, Santa Banana!
The only solution I think is for the President to get together with the Senate and the House of Representatives to find a solution to the problem brought about with the creation and operation of POGOs which started during the past administration.
They can start with the closure of the illegal POGOs and then have all the illegal Chinese repatriated, even if it takes more than a year to do it.
It’s a problem that must be resolved.
With the ban also on internet gambling, it can be done.
Actually, the problem brought about by the POGOs worsened by the entry of Chinese crime syndicates that gave birth to the crimes and scams borne by the POGOs.
Considering that many city and municipal executives are also involved with POGOs, Santa Banana, it shows how extensive corruption has gone nationwide.
It’s an epidemic of sorts. Santa Banana, the problem is alarming!
Government must face the problem head-on.
As I said, and I must repeat, the President and the Senate and the House of Representatives must get together soon enough. It’s a problem that threatens our national security and every Filipino.
The findings of the PAOCC on what extent the illegal POGOs had gone could be the start.
As reported, the PAOCC not only has the addresses of the illegal POGOs, but complete photographs and incorporators. But as I said, the PAOCC needs help.
The problem can be solved, but it needs the political will of the President with the help of every Filipino, considering the POGO problem affects all Filipinos
