TEN senators have expressed support for the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means to totally ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) in the Philippines amid its alleged involvement in illegal activities that put the country’s peace and order situation at risk.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on Ways and Means, said they submitted on Tuesday, September 18, Committee Report 136, which contains their recommendation about Pogos in the country.
Aside from permanent banning, the panel also recommends the adoption of a resolution to urge the executive department to cease the operations of Pogos, for the labor department to look for alternative employment placements for Filipino nationals employed by Pogos, and for the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to cancel and revoke the working visas issued to foreign nationals employed in the Pogo industry and implement their deportation following immigration rules and regulations.
Among those who signed the report, including Gatchalian, were Senators JV Ejercito, Ronald Dela Rosa, Risa Hontiveros, Pia Cayetano, Loren Lagarda, Raffy Tulfo, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva and Aquilino Pimentel III.
"Isa itong mahalagang hakbang para mapigilan ang paglaganap ng krimeng nagmumula sa ilang kumpanya ng Pogo. Inaasahan natin na maabot ang ating layunin na mapanatili ang kaayusan sa bansa, na siyang magdudulot ng paglago ng ating ekonomiya," said Gatchalian.
(This is an important step to prevent the spread of crime coming from some Pogo companies. We hope to achieve our goal of maintaining order in the country, which will lead to the growth of our economy.)
"Malinaw sa datos na ating nakalap nitong mga nakaraang buwan na ginagamit ng mga kawatan ang Pogo para makapagsagawa ng mga krimen na kinabibilangan ng human trafficking, at iba't ibang investment tulad ng crypto-currency at love scam," he added.
(It is clear from the data we have gathered in recent months that thieves are using Pogo to commit crimes that include human trafficking, and various investments such as crypto-currency and love scams.)
Based on a report released by the Philippine National Police (PNP), from January 2017 up to present, the total number of victims of Pogo-related crimes already reached 4,355 involving a total of 903 perpetrators.
According to the PNP, crimes committed in such incidents include human trafficking, forcible abduction, homicide, illegal detention, kidnapping-for-ransom, theft, robbery-extortion, serious physical injuries, swindling, and grave coercion, among others. (SunStar Philippines)