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SHUTDOWN A Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub operating behind the town hall of Bamban in Tarlac province has been shut down following a government raid in March due to human trafficking, online scams and other illegal activities. —File photo from RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can address the problems arising from the criminal activities involving Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) if he just states that laws should be strictly enforced.
Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda made this statement on Tuesday.
The lawmaker gave a list of things he wants to hear from Marcos on the President’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 22.
Among the topics he wants Marcos to address is calling for strict enforcement of laws relating to Pogos.
“It’s simple: Implement the law. Follow the law. Enforce the law. If you enforce the law, naturally, you will catch violators,” Salceda said.
“If you hear news of violations, that’s because PAGCOR and law enforcement are catching them. Let the law work,” he added.
Several lawmakers are waiting for Marcos to break his silence regarding Pogos, which have been scrutinized for their links to crimes.
Last July 2, Senator Risa Hontiveros and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, on separate occasions, said the administration must talk about the Pogos.
They said investigations showed that many of the Pogos were involved in human trafficking rings, kidnapping, prostitution, torture and killings.
READ: Marcos should break his silence on Pogos – lawmakers
On Sunday, Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Sherwin Gatchalian urged Marcos to comment on Pogos.
READ: Senators wish for Marcos to tackle Pogo ban in Sona
Marcos spoke on Pogos last January 2023, but this was before the recent raids on gaming sites where Filipino and foreign workers were supposedly rescued.
371 Filipinos and 497 foreigners were rescued from an illegal Pogo in Bamban, Tarlac on March 13.
The Pogo was linked to suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) accused the local chief executive of having business interests in Baofu Land Development Inc.
Baofu owns the land where the raided Pogo sits.
The DILG said Baofu, as represented by the president of Guo’s company, purchased eight parcels of land in Bamban in February 2019.
Guo said she divested ownership of Baofu, but the DILG believed the amount she divested it for — P2.5 million — was “grossly incongruent to her investment on Baofu, which was approximately eight hectares of land.”
READ: Inflation cooled to 3.7% in June, slowest in 4 months
Other points
Meanwhile, Salceda, an economist, praised Marcos for managing the country’s economy despite challenges, noting that indicators point to the situation as improving.
“While challenges remain, President Marcos has strong wins to tout,” he said.
“Inflation is down to 3.7 percent, within the target range. Unemployment is at 4.1 percent, – strong, considering our high interest rates. Growth is at 5.7 percent – solid, considering China’s slowdown and the generally hostile global conditions,” he pointed out.
“PBBM has also secured an agreement with India to supply rice, and will be able to secure even more supply as India eases export restrictions,” the lawmaker noted.
“In other words, the President can resolutely say that things are getting and are about to get better,” he concluded.