Lesser text scams? Thanks to Pogo ban, says Poe

LAW TO BAN POGOS, SIMILAR ONLINE PLATFORMS: Sen. Grace Poe suggests passing a law that will totally ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and other similar online platforms in the Philippines. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — The proliferation of text scams has stopped, or at least has dwindled, all thanks to the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Sen. Grace Poe made the observation in a short manifestation during the chamber’s plenary session on Monday.

Poe used to head the Senate’s panel on public services which deliberated, approved, and endorsed the approval of the SIM Card Registration Act.

“I just wanted for people to realize something and that’s the power of the words of our President when he delivered the [State of the Nation Address]  last July 22, I believe. From that time on actually a little before that time until the present, kung mapapansin ninyo, wala nang masyadong nagte—text scam sa inyo ngayon ng mga nanalo kayo ng ganitong jackpot o kaya yung package ninyo, kailangan i-redeem ninyo, ganito-ganyan. So nangangahulugan lamang na malaki ang kinalaman nitong mga nag-ooperate ng mga illegal na Pogos sa ating bansa,” said Poe.

(If you have noticed, the text scams have been reduced. The number of texts offering jackpots and packages that you have to redeem have dwindled. So this just means that this is related to the operation of illegal Pogos in our country.)

The senator said this just goes to show that the text scams might have been connected to the recently-raided Pogos in the country.

“So the President’s words that legal and illegal POGOs are no longer allowed somehow made a big impact at least when it comes to these scams that we are receiving. Now, that’s not to say that this will finally be over forever. There will probably still be other scammers that will try to fool our countrymen, but at least this is a large step forward,” said Poe.

This then prompted her to state that it’s high time for the chamber to pursue and pass a legislation stating that no legal or illegal Pogos will be allowed in the country.

Marcos has ordered the immediate ban of Pogos in the country. He subsequently ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to wind down the operations of these firms until the end of 2024.