21-9-2023 (MANILA) In a move towards addressing security and social concerns, ten out of the 18 members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee in the Philippines have thrown their support behind a committee report recommending the ban of Philippine offshore gaming operators, known as POGOs. This development, led by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, carries potential implications for peace, order, and the country’s economic stability.
Apart from Senator Gatchalian, who chairs the committee, prominent senators including Senate President Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, and Senators Ronald dela Rosa, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Grace Poe, Raffy Tulfo, Pia Cayetano, and Risa Hontiveros have signed Committee Report No. 136.
Several senators have expressed their intent to interpellate the proposal during the plenary discussions.
Senator Gatchalian stated that the committee report, seeking the prohibition of POGOs, would be presented to the plenary for in-depth deliberations. He emphasized that the primary point of contention would be the timeline for phasing out POGOs, with some advocating for immediate cessation, including Senator Gatchalian himself.
With the submission of the committee report, the removal of POGOs from the Philippines may become a reality sooner rather than later.
Senator Gatchalian remarked, “This is an important step to curb the spread of crimes originating from certain POGO companies.” He highlighted that the data collected over recent months demonstrates that criminals have exploited POGOs to engage in various illicit activities, including human trafficking and fraudulent schemes involving cryptocurrencies and romance scams.
While signing the committee report, Senators Pimentel, Ejercito, and Hontiveros stated their intent to interpellate and introduce amendments. Senator Cayetano expressed her intention to interpellate, while Senator Tulfo indicated a desire to amend the proposal to encompass Philippine inland gaming operations and other forms of online gaming.
Senator Hontiveros, a vocal advocate for POGO bans, stated, “For almost three years now, I have been calling for POGOs to be kicked out of the country. So we fully support Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian in the committee report to ban POGOs forever. I have always believed that a total ban on POGO is right and just. I hope it gets through Congress soon. If we got anything out of it, it was nothing compared to the disaster they have caused. No one will regret it when we drive them out, finally.”
The opposition senator emphasized that POGOs have only brought crime and exploitation against women to the country. She cited investigations by the Senate Committee on Women into POGOs’ involvement in prostitution, corruption, human trafficking, and their role as legal cover for scam operations.
Senator Ejercito, who signed the committee report with marginal notes, clarified his stance, stating, “I am not for POGO and just want to soften the impact of its cancellation by phase-out instead.” He advocated for a phased shutdown over two to three years to avoid creating the perception of legislative inconsistency in the international community.
Senator Gatchalian acknowledged that the economic impact of phasing out POGOs from the Philippine economy is relatively modest. However, he underscored that the crimes associated with POGOs, particularly human trafficking and scams, have tarnished the country’s image and reputation.
He asserted, “POGOs have become a front for scams. The scams we see and POGOs are the same. As long as the POGOs are here, there is a scam going on. There is human trafficking going on.”
Citing a report from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Senator Gatchalian revealed that the total number of victims of POGO-related crimes had reached 4,355, with 903 perpetrators recorded from January 2017 to June 30 of the current year. These crimes encompass human trafficking, abduction, homicide, illegal detention, kidnapping-for-ransom, theft, extortion, physical injuries, swindling, and coercion.
Senator Gatchalian has consistently advocated for the closure of POGOs, arguing that any revenue generated by the industry is outweighed by the extensive social costs associated with POGO-related crimes.
