2 senators hail Pogo ban order, but hearings will continue

Sen. Risa Hontiveros —SENATE PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Two senators rejoiced on Monday after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), even the legal ones, are banned in the country.

For her part, Senate Deputy Minority floor leader Risa Hontiveros said Marcos’ pronouncement is a huge victory for the whole country.

READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’

“As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women who led the investigation about the crimes linked to Pogo, I cannot express the joy and comfort that I felt when Pogo was finally banned in the country,” said Hontiveros in a statement.

To prove her point, Hontiveros said Pogos have  brought innumerable and unspeakable social ills into the country.

“This is an important first of many steps that we must take in order to make accountable those who allowed these crimes (that these Pogos brought) to proliferate here in our country,” said Hontiveros.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, praised Marcos for the latter’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona) speech.

“I commend the President for an excellent and perfectly delivered speech that showed and proved that he listens and cares for the Filipino [people],”  said Gatchalian. 

Despite Marcos’ Pogo pronouncement, both Hontiveros and Gatchalian emphasized Senate hearings on Pogo will continue to demand accountability.”