Recto says letter recommending total POGO ban sent to Marcos

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said Wednesday that a letter was already sent to President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. recommending the total ban of the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) due to the issues surrounding the industry.

''Hindi pa but we did write a letter because we were asked to make a recommendation. It's up to the President to make the decision,'' Recto told reporters in Montalban, Rizal when asked if he already talked to the President regarding the matter.

Asked when did he submit the letter, Recto said, ''Few weeks ago.''

Recto said he sees problem on how POGOs are being ran right now, ''unless we can improve the way we are doing it.''

Recto earlier said that 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.

Yet to discuss POGO ban

The Marcos Cabinet has yet to discuss calls to ban illegal POGOs in the country, according to National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

Balisacan maintained his position against POGOs, and that the government should focus on providing high quality jobs for the public.

The Philippine government has been investigating the illegal POGO hubs in the country.

Authorities have launched a series of raids against POGO hubs, leading to the rescue of torture and kidnap victims and the discovery of equipment for alleged criminal activities.

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