PLDT says POGO crackdown to have minimal impact on business

The winding down of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) will not have any significant impact on the business operations of PLDT Inc., its top official said Thursday.

"The issues that could arise from any situation of POGO will have very minimal impact on our revenues," PLDT chief executive officer Manuel Pangilinan told reporters in Makati City.

This comes as China has been vocal in its pursuit of a crackdown on POGO workers, in an ongoing effort to curb gambling and entities defrauding the country.

For its part, Malacañang on Wednesday said the government, which has forged closer relations with China, does not tolerate irregularities involving POGOs or Chinese citizens in the country such as tax evasion, bribery, and prostitution.

"It will have some (effect on business) but it's anywhere between modest to moderate," said Pangilinan.

According to PLDT chief finance officer Annabelle Chua, POGOs only make up 2% of the revenues of PLDT's enterprise business. — MDM, GMA News