De Lima, Carpio urge Marcos to cancel POGO licenses

An open letter dated July 15 urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to cancel the licenses of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) that cater to Chinese people, and a follow-up letter on Tuesday, July 16, further detailed the illegality of such POGOs under Pagcor rules.

The letter was signed by former senator Leila de Lima, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, retired Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, and other prominent figures who argued that POGOs should be banned due to their illegal status in China and violations of local regulations.

Signatories cited concerns such as the involvement of syndicates, human rights abuses, use of fake documents, tax evasion, and bribery as reasons for canceling POGO licenses, emphasizing Pagcor's authority to immediately revoke any license found to be fraudulent.

The Chinese Embassy's request to ban all POGOs catering to Chinese individuals was highlighted in the letter, noting that gambling is illegal under Chinese law and stressing Pagcor’s own regulations prohibiting such operations.

Despite potential economic losses estimated at P20 billion, the National Economic and Development Authority has expressed support for a POGO ban, with some senators hoping Marcos will announce this during his upcoming State of the Nation Address.