Pimentel: Pagcor going around Pogo ban

Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. —Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III on Saturday threatened to push for the abolition of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) if it refuses to fully comply with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to shut down all Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).

“Just a reminder to Pagcor: Follow President Marcos’ instruction to the letter,” Pimentel said in a radio interview.

“The Senate might repeal the presidential decree that created you if you will countermand the instruction of your principal, the President, by hiding behind the new initials you invented,” he said.

READ: Pagcor debunks document on immediate closure of Pogos

The opposition senator said he was informed that Pagcor may claim that Mr. Marcos’ announcement during his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) only covered Pogos and not internet gaming licensees (IGLs).

The state gaming regulator had been using the term IGLs for offshore gaming establishments authorized to operate in the country.

“We feel that [Pagcor] would muddle the issue because they changed the name of ‘Pogo’ to ‘IGL.’ Don’t do that, because we will really get mad at you and we will not stop from investigating you,” Pimentel said.

A day after the President received positive response from legislators for his decision to put an end to Pogos, Pagcor Chair Alejandro Tengco told the House of Representatives the ban would include the remaining 43 IGLs.

Very clear orders

“[The President’s] orders are very clear: ‘I am instructing Pagcor to wind down the operations of all Pogos,’” Tengco said at the joint hearing of the House committee on public order and safety and committee on games and amusement.

“I cannot wind down the operations of illegal Pogos, because those are not within my jurisdiction. But the 43 in my jurisdiction, that’s clear, I will wind them down. I will follow the President’s orders,” he said.

Despite Tengco’s assurance, Pimentel reiterated there was no need for the President to issue an executive order for Pagcor to implement his directive.

“What he said during Sona was very clear. What the President did at the end of [his speech] was very good because he saved the best for last,” he said.

“I was actually teasing [Tengco] that ‘you run after Pogo so that you will be ‘pogi’ (handsome),” he added.

Pogos, which flourished during the Duterte administration, initially started as gaming facilities catering mostly to residents of mainland China.

Authorities later discovered Pogo hubs have become venues of cybercrimes, human trafficking and physical abuse.