Salceda backs continued POGO operations in PH

MANILA, Philippines — Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda on Monday believes the benefits outweigh the cost in terms of the operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the country.

Salceda expressed his support towards the continued operations of POGOs in the country after presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Sunday that earnings from the industry can be used for the government’s response to coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

The lawmaker, who chairs the House committee on ways and means, said that POGOs contributed a combined total of P94.87 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018 and 2019.

During the Senate blue ribbon committee’s hearing on the alleged money laundering, crimes, and other suspicious activities associated with POGOs last week, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) disclosed that there is P14 billion worth of transactions made by POGOs that are considered to be “suspicious.”

Among the “suspicious” transactions included violations of the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000, drug trafficking activities, and fraud.

“If you look at the suspicious transaction linked to POGO, ang masasabi natin na violative lang talaga, konti lang (we can say that the violative activities are little),” Salceda said.

Furthermore, PNP Deputy Director for Operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar also said that a sudden spike in the number of crimes, such as kidnapping, was “directly dependent” on the influx of Chinese nationals arriving in the country.

In the same Senate hearing, Eleazar said there were 73 kidnapping incidents related to casinos over the last three years—with a noticeable spike in 2019 with 38 kidnapping incidents, compared to the 16 cases in 2018.

But Salceda said the expenditures for police operations are outweighed by the benefits brought about by the industry.

“Mukhang mas nalulugi ba tayo dahil sa ginagamit natin na expenditures for the police work (Are we on the losing end because of the expenditures we use for police work)? I don’t think so. In fact, we are ahead with POGOs,” Salceda said.

“The issue here really is if China will not punish us because China wants it closed actually,” he lawmaker added.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon earlier questioned why the country would not shut POGOs down despite recent reports of alleged illegal activities associated with it.

Drilon said the social problems that POGOs have brought to our country are “not worth it.”