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Gatchalian: POGO ban should be absolute and final

Senator Win Gatchalian said the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), now termed as Internet Gaming Licensee (IGL), as ordered by President Marcos should be implemented comprehensively and without exception.

“The President’s message is clear. There should be no exception to this particular rule of a POGO ban considering the many detriments the industry has caused our society,” Gatchalian said.

“Wala na dapat POGO o IGL na payagang manatili pa sa bansa kung gusto natin ng mas mapayapa at maunlad na mga komunidad,” he added.

The senator made the statement following a request made by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to exempt 12 POGO companies from the nationwide ban, citing concerns about the employees and businesses that would be adversely affected. PAGCOR earlier said that 12 of the 43 POGO companies operating legally are merely customer service agents for gaming companies. 

He said instead of pushing for an exception from the President’s total ban order, PAGCOR should craft a comprehensive plan on how to effectively implement the order in coordination with various government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Immigration, and Department of Foreign Affairs, among others.

It can be recalled, Gatchalian said, that many POGO companies including those with valid licenses from PAGCOR were raided by authorities for perpetrating various crimes. SA Rivendell Global Gaming Corporation and Smartweb Technology Corp, both in Pasay City, and Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc and Zun Yuan Technology located in Bamban, Tarlac, all had provisional licenses from PAGCOR at the time they were raided by the authorities.

This means that providing exceptions from the ban would not completely resolve the criminalities perpetrated by industry players and exceptions could again lead to abuses and other atrocities, according to the senator. 

Gatchalian earlier emphasized he would make sure that local POGO workers would be provided jobs and livelihood assistance from the labor department.

Photo by Mark Cayabyab/OS WIN GATCHALIAN