DOF's Recto wants POGO ops stopped

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto on Monday said he is keen on recommending to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to stop operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), given the issues surrounding the industry.

According to Recto, while he is not against POGOs per se, it is the illegal activities being conducted by several POGO companies such as those in Bamban, Tarlac and in Porac, Pampanga that influenced him in the decision.

“Frankly, I’m not a fan of gambling and two, I’m not a fan of POGOs, really. But if they were not doing any hanky panky and they’re paying taxes, fine with me. But I think there are many issues already surrounding the POGO industry ‘di ba,” he said.

“Given that, like I said, I’m willing to recommend to the President na ‘wag nang ituloy ‘yung (not to continue with) POGO,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the EJAP-SMC Economic Forum in Manila City.

This comes as a POGO firm in Bamban, Tarlac is now being investigated by authorities over alleged illegal activities. It is being linked to suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, whose identity as a Filipino is being questioned and is suspected of being a Chinese national.

Another POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga is also being investigated for illegal activities, with lawmakers saying that it is being operated by Chinese syndicates.

“Kung wala namang kasalanang ginagawam (If they are not doing anything wrong), I suppose puwede pa (they can still be), but I think in general we don’t have to pin our hopes on POGO. In my case, with regard to the Department of Finance, I’m not in favor of POGO,” Recto said.

Recto’s predecessor, former Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, has repeatedly called for the ban of POGOs as he said the industry has already been disallowed in other countries such as China and Cambodia.

Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin in October 2022 said the country can recover the potential losses from the exit of POGOs in other industries with high value added.

For its part, real estate services firm Leechiu Property Consultants said that the country stands to lose over P100 billion should the POGO industry be forced out of the country.

The Association of Service Providers and POGOs (ASAP) also warned that some 23,000 Filipinos would lose their jobs if the operators are banned from the country. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News