Bill seeking POGO total ban filed in Senate

Senator Joel Villanueva has filed a measure calling for a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the Philippines.

Senate Bill 2752 or the proposed Anti-POGO Act was filed following the pronouncement of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Apart from the revocation of all POGO licenses issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), SB 2752 will likewise repeal Republic Act 11590 or the act taxing POGOs.

While RA 11590 will be repealed, the closed POGOs "shall continue to be liable for all taxes due and payable to the government arising from or in connection to their operations as such, including but not limited to, income tax, business tax, value added tax, percentage tax, gaming tax, and withholding tax."

Section 4 of the proposed measure also penalizes POGOs who will fail or refuse to comply with the closure order against them.

POGOs and/or its beneficial owners, directors, officers, stockholders, members, or employees who violate the proposed law may face a penalty of 12 to 20 years imprisonment or P100 million fine, or both.

If the offender is a foreigner, SB 2752 states that he or she will be deported and barred from entry to the Philippines after serving his or her sentence.

The bill also proposed a worker's transition program, instructing the Department of Labor and Employment to formulate and implement plans and programs for the skilling, upskilling, and reskillling of affected Filipino workers.

The Labor Department is mandated under the measure to coordinate with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and other relevant agencies for the training and transition of the affected workers to quality jobs.

The PAGCOR, Bureau of Immigration, DOLE, and investment promotion agencies shall likewise submit a report to the president and Congress on the cancellation of all licenses issued to POGOs, the status of the winding down and cessation of POGO operations, and other relevant information within a year after the proposed bill is passed into law.

In a separate statement, Villanueva said "there should be no traces of POGO in the Philippines" following the President's order.

"The evidence of crimes and social ills from POGO operations immensely overwhelm the benefits the Filipinos get from the taxes they pay," Villanueva said.

"Mas lamang po ang perwisyo kaysa pakinabang mula sa POGO na humihila sa atin sa kumunoy ng kasamaan. Huwag nating panghinayangan ang pagpapalayas sa kanila," Villanueva added.

[The troubles arising from POGO outweigh the advantages. We should not feel sorry for banning them.] — RSJ, GMA Integrated News