EDITORIAL — It’s about time

Many people may not have agreed with some of the points and items mentioned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his third State of the Nation Address the other day, but one statement he said drew the best reaction ever from those in attendance.

“Effective today, all POGOs are banned. I hereby instruct PAGCOR (the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.) to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year… Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into elicit areas farthest from gaming such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder… The grave abuse and great disrespect to our system of laws must stop,” he said

This was greeted by thunderous applause from the audience.

Indeed, it’s about time. The scourge that is POGOs has been a thorn in our side for quite some time now. The worst of them have been linked to everything from kidnapping and human trafficking up to a high-level conspiracy to infiltrate our local government units with their agents.

This isn’t to mention the gambling addiction promoted by easy access to games of chance.

Despite PAGCOR’s insistence that the country stands to lose ?20 billion in revenue, no amount will ever be worth letting criminal syndicates establish a foothold and conduct operations unimpeded in our country, victimizing both locals and foreigners alike.

We understand their reluctance to carry out the order, the bottom line of PAGCOR’s mandate is to produce money after all, and not really mind the cost at which this money comes. But they no longer have any choice in this matter; the president has heard the clamor of the people, seen the situation on the ground, and has spoken.

Now, after all this sturm und drang against POGOs, we hope that this is one promise the president can keep. After all, he did promise the nation that after he becomes president rice will be set at ?29 per kilo. And we all know where that promise went.