Senators hope Marcos would announce POGO ban during SONA

Senators have expressed hope that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will announce a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) next week.

"Sa SONA ni Presidente, sana sabihin nila pinapa-ban na nila agad ang POGO sa Pilipinas," Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a virtual interview with reporters Monday.

(During the President's SONA, I hope that they will announce the immediate ban on POGOs in the Philippines.)

She made the call following the positions of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan against POGOs.

Hontiveros, who has been leading the investigations into the raided POGO hubs in the country, expressed hope that Marcos would consider the negative effects of POGOs in the Philippines.

"Sana, batay sa lahat ng masamang nadulot ng POGO so far at lahat ng pangakong napako naman tungkol sa magiging ganansya nito mula nung nag-open door policy sa POGO nung panahon ni [former President Rodrigo] Duterte," she said.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said it would be a good of political move if the President would announce the ban on POGOs during the SONA.

“Baka gulatin niya tayo, sisipa ang approval rating ng Presidente ‘pag inannounce niya sa SONA niya na he is now banning completely all POGO activities in the Philippines. Napakagandang political move po ‘yun,” he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB Sunday. 

He added such announcement would be the highlight of SONA, if ever.

“Kung ako si Presidente hintayin ko na ang SONA para isa ‘yan sa highlights ng address niya. Syempre lahat ng atensyon dun nakafocus, magugulat tayong lahat. Hindi lang magugulat, matutuwa pa,” he further said.

Several senators have been calling for the ban on illegal POGOs in the country.

Earlier in July, Balisacan had expressed support for the ban on POGO amid a potential revenue loss amounting to P20 billion due to its social cost.

Last week, Recto said he sent a letter to Marcos recommending the total ban of the operations of POGOs due to the issues surrounding the industry.

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.—AOL, GMA Integrated News