‘PALAYASIN NA’ | Hontiveros renews call to ban POGOs amid illegal activities

September 20, 2022 , 03:15 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(September 20, 2022) – Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday renewed her call to end the operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) due to their illicit activities over the past years, noting that the social costs of allowing them to operate are far too heavy.

Hontiveros, one of the two members of the minority bloc in the Senate, expressed hope that the renewed push to ban POGOs, which are reportedly mostly owned by business people from China, would lead to their permanent shutdown.

“Dapat matagal na silang pinaalis sa bansa,” said Hontiveros. “I led the hearings on the link between the rise of the POGO industry and the increase in the cases of prostitution and human trafficking. These investigations all led us to the same conclusion: The social cost of POGOs outweighs the perceived benefits.”

In a hearing by the panel on finance in the Senate, Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Boying Remulla estimated there may be 40,000 POGO workers illegally staying in the country. Figures from the DOJ showed at least 216 gaming firms did not renew their licenses.

“They’re working for a POGO that’s not anymore licensed,” said Remulla. “I’ll be speaking to the ambassador of China to make sure that the protocol for deportation is followed properly so that we may be able to start deporting these people.”

Sen. Koko Pimentel III, the other member of the minority bloc in the Senate, asked if self-deportation was an option. While that’s possible, Remulla pointed out that some workers from China are afraid to go back to their country because of stern penalties, inlcuding passport revocation.

“They are also hounded by the government (of China) to pay a certain fine when they go home. That’s already one of the problems we are facing now with regards to self-deportation because many of them may not consider that a very good option for themselves,” explained Remulla.

Bureau of Immigration commissioner Norman Tansingco said they have deported around 100 individuals illegally staying in the country, although that’s only a rough estimate. He said they coordinate with the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation on this.

Last year, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued specific rules on collecting taxes from POGOs in line with Republic Act 11590. Licensees must pay a 5% tax on gross gaming revenues while non-gaming revenues are subject to a 25% regular income tax.

Only P3.91 billion worth of taxes from POGOs were collected last year, according to the BIR.

Despite the issues, POGOs were previously defended by former President Rodrigo Duterte, saying they are not doing anything dirty.

Hontiveros, however, maintained that the potential earnings would not be highly beneficial given the problems linked to POGOs.

“Kung hindi mapahinto ang POGO ngayon, uulit at uulit lang ang mga krimen na lumalaganap sa ating lipunan,” said Hontiveros. “POGOs have not brought anything good to our country. Palayasin na dapat sila sa lalong madaling panahon.”

(PM | With reports from Maeanne Los Baños, News5)

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