Anti-POGO bill can be approved before 19th Congress ends – Gatchalian

It is possible for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to sign into law the bill that will totally ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country within the 19th Congress or by June 2025, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Sunday.

Gatchalian said a technical working group is set to convene on Thursday to prioritize working on the measure, in light of the pronouncement of Marcos in his 3rd State of the Nation Address to ban all POGOs in the country.

“Sigurado naman. Mayroon pa tayong time [that’s for sure, we still have time],” the senator said when asked in a Super Radyo dzBB interview if the bill can be enacted before the 19th Congress ends next year.

“Simple lang naman itong bill. Hindi siya complicated. Plus, may pronouncement na ni Pangulo. So, formalities na lang ‘to. Kaya naman aprubahan ito before the 19th Congress ends,” he added.

(This is a simple bill. It’s not complicated. Plus, there is a pronouncement already by the President. So, it's just formalities. It can be approved before the 19th Congress ends.)

In July, Senator Joel Villanueva filed Senate Bill 2752 or the proposed Anti-POGO Act days after Marcos announced the POGO ban.

According to the President, the POGOs had ventured into illicit areas such as scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and murder.

“The grave abuse and disrespect to our system and laws must stop. Kailangan na itigil ang panggugulo nito sa ating lipunan at paglapastangan sa ating bansa,” Marcos said in his 2024 SONA.

(We need to end this scourge on our society and abuse in our country.) —RF, GMA Integrated News