EDITORIAL — Somewhere even higher up?

Who made it legal or easy for POGO’s to operate in the Philippines?

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco has come out to say it was a former Cabinet official who allegedly facilitated the grant of gaming licenses to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

But then he stopped short of saying who this official was. Now people are trying to identify who this former Cabinet official is, particular the senators who have taken up the cudgels against POGO’s.

“Name the official. We are not in showbiz, so there is no need for it to become a blind item. People need to know the truth and hold accountable those responsible,” said Senator Joel Villanueva.

Indeed, there is a need to find out who this former Cabinet official is, not just to clear the name of other former Cabinet officials but also to determine if he or she has culpability for the mess we are in right now because of POGO’s.

Also, of course, to determine if something was offered in exchange for the granting of those gaming licenses.

POGO’s are proving more bane than boon to our country. The taxes they purportedly pay are no fair trade when you consider the social costs of gambling made easy; people falling into gambling addiction and the families ruined by such addictions. Of course, a gambling addiction is but a gateway to other forms of addiction and vice.

We don’t even have to mention the fact that many of them have become fronts for the illegal activities of criminal syndicates.

We already mentioned in a previous editorial that the higher up in public office someone is, the more protect he or she can offer criminal activity. Protection for POGO’s has already been suspected of policemen, barangay officials, city officials, and even judiciary officials.

But now could it be that protection for POGO’s can come from somewhere even higher up the government?