House opposition files bill to ban pogos

Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have filed House Bill 10525 seeking to ban Philippine Offshore Gambling Operations (POGOs) in the country, citing concerns over crime and corruption.

These lawmakers argue that POGOs have facilitated crime syndicates and have been linked to human smuggling, money laundering, illegal immigration, prostitution, extortion, kidnapping, and torture.

The bill aims to revoke all licenses granted to POGOs by PAGCOR and criminalize their operations.

Some administration lawmakers are divided on the issue, with some, like Representative Benny Abante, calling for a ban, while others, like Representative Joey Salceda, prefer to regulate and weed out delinquent POGOs.

Abante expressed suspicion about the origins of the large sums of money involved with POGOs and their potential links to politics, drugs, and torture.

Conversely, Salceda pointed to PAGCOR's revenue collections from POGOs, which reached P5.1 billion in 2023, indicating a significant financial contribution.

Senator Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares also supports a POGO ban, suggesting that the resources associated with these operations could be better allocated to social services.