Operatives of PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group process seized computers and cellphones used for alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operation in Almanza Uno in Las Pinas City last June 2023. ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Calls urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in the country are growing at the House of Representatives, amid reports of crimes being linked to the business. 

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ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro issued the call, as the Makabayan bloc filed on Tuesday House Bill 10525 seeking to prohibit and criminalize offshore gaming operations in the Philippines. It also proposes to revoke the licenses granted to POGOs. 

“Palala na nang palala, ‘yung mga problema natin sa POGO to the point na may mga nai-involve na, quote-unquote… local officials. ‘Yung mga raid na nangyayari, napatunayan talaga na maraming mga Chinese people na employed dito sa POGO ay hindi sapat ‘yung kanilang mga documents para magtrabaho dito,” Castro said. 

“Dapat ay magsalita na rin si President Marcos Jr... Ano ba ang masasabi natin diyan, may pinaprotektahan ba?” Castro asked. 

Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers also appealed to the President to heed the call to ban POGOs. 

“POGOs are banned in China, yet we continue to give them safe haven and sanctuary in our country. Worse, criminal syndicates only use these POGOs as fronts for their gruesome and illegal activities," he said in a statement. 

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“There is no redeeming value in POGOs. We should not waste a minute more in closing them, totally and completely. Like a gangrenous toe, we should cut it from our body before it kills us. Let us not allow our gains as a free republic to be destroyed by an alien culture of crime and gambling. If we love our country, we should break free from the bondage that is POGO," Barbers added. 

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairperson and Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda, for his part, favors the phasing out only of “bad and mediocre” POGOs.

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“You phase out the bad and mediocre licensees. You don’t phase the whole industry out. You enforce the law,” he said in a statement. 

Salceda commended the efforts of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for improving law enforcement and revenue collection efforts on offshore gaming licensees (OGLs), also known as POGOs. 

Data from Salceda’s office, obtained from PAGCOR showed that the 2023 PAGCOR collections from OGLs improved to P5.1 billion from just 87 licensees, compared to P2.99 billion from 158 licensees the year prior. 

Last February, the House Committee on Games and Amusements approved House Bill 5082 seeking to ban POGOs in the country, and House Resolution 1197 urging the PAGCOR to prohibit POGO operations. 

The author of House Bill 5082 is optimistic the House plenary will tackle his measure when Congress resumes session. 

“When you have the POGO Hub, na meron silang sariling drugs sa loob, sariling torture equipment sa loob… Merong nakita mga stain of blood sa mga walls. This POGO… is not only affecting the moral dimension of the Filipinos, but the economy as well,” Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. said.

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