Speaker Romualdez directs House to draft POGO ban bill by Dec

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez directed House leadership and top Secretariat officials to draft legislation implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) by December 2024.

Romualdez instructed committee chairs to prioritize crafting a substitute bill harmonizing existing House bills and resolutions concerning POGO operations for immediate plenary deliberation, ensuring iron-clad provisions to prevent criminal activities from resurfacing.

Former President Gloria Arroyo highlighted that POGOs often serve as fronts for illegal activities such as prostitution, human smuggling, and money laundering.

Various government agencies including the Department of Justice expressed support for the total ban on POGOs, while the Department of Labor and Employment initiated interventions to assist affected Filipino workers in transitioning to new job opportunities.

PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco confirmed that Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) are also subject to the ban, with plans underway to coordinate with DOLE and economic managers to address the transition for more than 30,000 affected workers.