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. ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA (UPDATED) — Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ban all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), Sen. Joel Villanueva has filed Senate Bill 2752, or the proposed Anti-POGO Act.

• POGO Paradise: How the Philippines became a hub for illegal POGOs

The proposed measure revokes and cancels “all POGO and other related licenses issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and other investment promotion agencies with the power to issue such licenses.”  

If passed into law, POGOs will have 30 days to cease their operations or face 12 to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of P100 million.

• Counting the cost: POGO ban to affect 40,000 workers, P40-B revenue - Pagcor

The bill, if passed, will also effectively repeal Republic Act 11590, or the Act Taxing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations.

Senators, including Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, have stressed that RA 11590 only adjusted tax rates for the POGOs but their existence is due to licenses issued by Pagcor.

The bill also requires the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide a Workers' Transition Program, through the help of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other relevant agencies, for affected POGO workers.

"The evidence of crimes and social ills from POGO operations immensely overwhelm the benefits the Filipinos get from the taxes they pay," Villanueva said.

SENATE PROBE

Sen. Robinhood Padilla, meanwhile, wants an inquiry into how the government will attend to displaced POGO-related workers as he filed Senate Resolution 1091 directing the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, which he chairs, to hold hearings.

• 20,000 foreign POGO workers told to leave Philippines in 60 days

In a hearing on Monday, Pagcor chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said about 40,000 workers will be affected by the POGO ban.

 "Considering the thousands of Filipino workers who will be adversely affected by the impending closure of POGO operations in the country, the public has the right to be informed of the planned actions and the programs to be implemented by the government to address this issue," Padilla said. 

During a  Senate hearing Tuesday, National Economic  and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told senators that the country won't be losing much by banning POGOs. 

Balisacan told lawmakers that POGOs only contribute less than 1/2 of 1 percent of the economy so it is not worth the reputational damage. 

"The contribution of POGO in the economy as of 2022, that's the latest number we have, is less than 1/2 of 1 percent. That's how small it is. Less than 1/2 of 1 percent if you compare that with the potential gains that we get from, say, you have an environment that's not associated with crimes... With the country having that kind of reputation of criminality, I said it's not worth it," Balisacan said. 

—With reports from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

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