Palace confident Beijing backs ultimatum on Pogos

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Sunday expressed confidence that China will not oppose President Rodrigo Duterte’s ultimatum for Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) to pay their taxes within three days or face closure.

The government has already served notices of tax assessment, reaching P21.62 billion, on 130 Pogos since September.

There are 218 Pogos in the country with 108,914 foreign workers. —JULIE M. AURELIO