PH ‘very close’ to banning Pogos, says Gatchalian

FILE PHOTO: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is optimistic that the country is now “very close” to banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos).

The senator cited on Tuesday the overwhelming “public sentiment against Pogo” following crimes linked to the industry.

Last April, Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on ways and means, submitted to the Palace his panel’s report seeking to outlaw the operations of Pogos in the country.

In a forum, the lawmaker was asked how close the Philippines is to totally banning Pogos, and answered: “I think very close. May public sentiment against Pogo. With these recent incidents, I am sure tataas pa ‘yan. Ang aking worry ay nag-uumpisa na itong kumalat sa locals. Ang nakita natin ngayon ay Filipino na ang nahu-human traffic.

(I think very close. There is a public sentiment against Pogo. With these recent incidents, I am sure that will increase. I worry that it is starting to spread to the locals. We have seen now that even Filipinos are being trafficked.)

Gatchalian was referring to alleged cases of human trafficking in Clark, Pampanga, and Las Piñas City in May and June, respectively.

Joint police forces in May raided a cyber marketing company inside the Clark Freeport Zone and rescued 919 foreign nationals and 171 Filipinos suspected of being victims of human trafficking.

In June, police rescued 2,714 people during a raid on a Pogo firm in Las Piñas City.

According to Gatchalian, most senators now support proposals to permanently ban Pogos in the country, although he reiterated that the decision is left to the executive department.

READ: Gatchalian says panel report vs Pogos gaining support from senators

Gatchalian previously said he was able to discuss the situation of Pogo industries in the Philippines with President Bongbong Marcos.

“Nagkaroon kami ng interaksyon at nakita ko na nababahala siya dito sa mga Pogo dahil na rin dito sa mga krimen na lumalabas,” said Gatchalian.

(We had an interaction, and I could see that he was concerned about the Pogos because of the crimes that were going on.)

“Natatandaan ko na tinanong niya ang aking opinyon tungkol dito, at sabi ko nga economically ay walang mawawala sa atin. Nasabi ko rin na ang economic managers ay sangayon sila na i-ban na ang Pogo dahil nga sa tinatawag na reputational risks,” he added.

(I remember he asked my opinion about it, and I said that we have nothing to lose economically. I also told him that all economic managers have agreed to ban Pogo because of the so-called reputational risks.)

Reputational risks, according to the lawmaker, happen when the country’s name is smeared due to controversial incidents, leading investors and tourists to avoid the Philippines.

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