Sen Hontiveros urges NSC to ban POGOs

Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the National Security Council to convince President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

This call was made during an executive session on Wednesday, June 5, which also discussed the alleged ties of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to POGOs.

Hontiveros cited POGO's links to international crime syndicates, spies, surveillance incidents, and other crimes, strengthening the basis to declare POGOs a national security threat.

The Senate committee chaired by Hontiveros is collaborating with the Anti-Money Laundering Council to investigate illegal revenue streams from POGOs.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III believes POGOs should be banned based on national interest, stating it is a bad and wrong policy.

Pimentel disagrees with declaring POGOs a national security threat, suggesting it's an unnecessary complication.