NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews / 15 July)—The Senate Committee that investigates the Philippines Online Gaming Operators (POGO) otherwise known as Internet Gambling Licenses (IGLs), reveals that their operations have spawned serious crimes like human trafficking, money laundering, online scams, slavery, prostitution, torture and killing, including espionage, which undermine the peace and security of the country.
Moreover, the corrupting influence of POGO is widespread and penetrating, infecting barangay officials and up in the totem pole. It turns many into deaf, mute and blind.
Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Risa Hontiveros, who spearhead the investigation, thus filed senate bills to repeal Republic Act 11590 or an Act Taxing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, the law that legitimizes the operation of POGOs.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chief Alejandro Tengco does not agree with a total ban because the operations of legitimate IGLs generate windfall revenue to the economy to the tune of P6.5 billion in 2023 and is apparently rising to P7.5 billion by 2024. A total ban may result to an appalling revenue loss. The right move is to run after the 250 IGLs that operate illegally, that is, without license, and spare and strictly monitor the 46 legitimate ones.
But this is easy said than done. An applicant for an IGL may register a particular space or room in a building. This specific area is under the watch and regulation of PAGCOR. The regulatory body has no say, however, on the adjacent rooms or building not covered in the application. This is what was exactly obtaining in the Bamban POGO hub of Alice Guo: just one PAGCOR-recognized unit for legal show; the rest were run by syndicates that trafficked thousands of enslaved and maltreated workers.
The crackdown on online gambling in China and in other Asian countries drives the gambling syndicates to the Philippines because the country is perceived to be friendly and welcoming and is lax in screening foreign investors.
Tengco cautions the rush in banning POGOs because, asides for the revenue it generates, it also employs accordingly some 30,000 Filipino workers which could be displaced by a ban.
But the security and peace of the country takes precedence over all other concerns.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte is proven wrong in saying that POGO is clean and essential to the economy. No, it is so dirty and hideous and is devastating to the economy.
The mother of all crimes should go.
(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. William R. Adan, Ph.D., is retired professor and former chancellor of Mindanao State University at Naawan, Misamis Oriental.)
