PCCI pushes for ‘tiered’ phaseout of Pogos

Chinese POGO workers composite image from INQUIRER file and stock photos

The country’s largest business organization said on Thursday it was supporting a staggered phaseout of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in consideration of possible ripple effects this could have on other sectors.

“We support a tiered phaseout of Pogo operations in the country. First, we call for the immediate closure of all Pogos operating illegally and without operating licenses,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Enunina Mangio said in a statement.

“Second, we call on [the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., or Pagcor] and other government agencies involved in regulating the Pogo business, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Immigration, to carefully review the mandates from licenses, work licenses and tax obligations of the Pogo operators,” she added.

READ: Marcos urged to cancel licenses of Chinese Pogos

Mangio acknowledged that Pogos pose social threats, describing the industry as a breeding ground for crime, scams and human rights violations.

But the PCCI warned that their haphazard, indiscriminate and sudden closure could lead to job losses and the displacement of businesses and industries.

Mangio said sectors that may be affected include food services, administrative support, transport services and financial institutions with outstanding loans to Pogos.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also supported a staggered ban on Pogos over “one to two years to transition, then totally ban them already.”

“The revenue earned is not enough to justify their continued stay which results to criminality and immorality. Illegal trafficking of women, illegal employment of workers pretending to be tourists, prostitution, kidnapping, gunrunning and murders remain unabated by mainland Chinese Pogo operators,” he said.

“It’s time to clamp down and phase it out completely,” he said in a Viber message to reporters.

Growing uproar

On July 15 and July 16, retired Supreme Court Justices Antonio Carpio and Conchita Carpio-Morales, along with other members of the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Class of 1975 and organizations, wrote open letters urging President Marcos to act on Pogos. These were followed by two more open letters also seeking a ban.

One of the letters dated July 16 was signed by residents of Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City, who cited numerous criminal incidents involving Chinese lessees who work for Pogos. The second letter dated July 17 was signed by UP alumni.

All four letters argued that Pogos were operating illegally, citing a Chinese law that prohibits all forms of gambling and that Pagcor was violating its own regulations. They also urged Mr. Marcos to order Pagcor to cancel the licenses of Pogos serving the Chinese market.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, the Makati Business Club, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines and Management Association of the Philippines said they “fully support” the recommendations of the Department of Finance and National Economic and Development Authority to ban Pogos. Other signatories were the Foundation for Economic Freedom, Justice Reform Initiative and UP School of Economics Alumni Association.

The clamor for a ban has grown in the past few years following an increase in illegal activities linked to Pogos, which include kidnapping, torture and human trafficking, among other crimes. —WITH A REPORT FROM TINA G. SANTOS