16-7-2024 (MANILA) In a heated debate over the status of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has challenged the National Security Council (NSC) to reconsider its stance on classifying these entities as a national security threat. The confrontation unfolded during a Senate panel hearing on Tuesday, highlighting growing concerns about the impact of POGOs on the nation’s wellbeing.
The NSC, represented by Assistant Director General Jude Lauengco, maintains that while POGOs present a “very serious national concern,” their activities have not yet reached the threshold required for elevation to a national security threat. Lauengco explained, “We look at elements like territorial integrity, sovereignty, social cohesiveness, political stability, and at this point in time we do not see that happening [with POGOs].”
This position has frustrated some senators, including Gatchalian, who are urging the NSC to bring the POGO issue to the attention of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. The senator argued passionately that the criminal activities associated with POGOs, including human trafficking and prostitution, warrant a more serious classification.
“For me, all the fingerprints of a national security threat are already there… All the red flags… In my opinion, we should not wait for the detonation of a bigger scenario,” Gatchalian stated, challenging the NSC’s stance. He pointedly asked, “What more are we waiting for?”
The NSC, as the principal advisory body responsible for coordinating and integrating plans and policies affecting national security, finds itself at the centre of this debate. Lauengco defended the current approach, stating that the POGO issue “is handled pretty well” and expressing satisfaction with how law enforcement and regulatory agencies are managing the situation.
This viewpoint echoes a statement made last June by National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who asserted that POGO sites in the country did not yet constitute a “national security threat” that would “necessitate the direct involvement of the defense forces.”
However, the persistent criminal activities linked to POGOs continue to raise alarm bells among lawmakers and sections of the public. The debate underscores the complex nature of balancing economic interests with national security concerns, particularly in the rapidly evolving landscape of online gaming operations.
