Palace: Reopening of POGOs, closure of ABS-CBN not comparable

MANILA, Philippines — The reopening of Chinese-run Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) is not comparable to the closure of media network ABS-CBN, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said there is no basis for comparison, stressing the money that POGOs bring to the country.

“Hindi po apples to apples ‘yan,” Roque said in an online briefing.

Roque said the government earns P600 million a month from regulatory fees and P22 billion income from POGOs alone. He added that POGOs employ some 35,000 Filipinos in its operations.

“Pero ang importante po ang kikitain natin sa POGO na mahigit isang bilyon kada buwan ay pupunta po lahat sa COVID-19,” Roque said.

(What’s important is what we earn from POGO which is over P1 billion a month, all of which will go to COVID-19 [efforts].)

ABS-CBN went off the air Tuesday night in compliance with the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) order to stop its broadcast operations after its franchise lapsed on May 4.

Meanwhile, Pogos were earlier allowed to resume partial operation by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation since it is considered to fall under business process outsourcing (BPOs).

This prompted criticism from some, including Vice President Leni Robredo who questioned why ABS-CBN was shut down while POGOs, which have been targets of police raids for illegal activities, were reopened.