Reject all senators who voted for the POGO law

The principal author and the main sponsor of the POGO Law, RA 11590, was Pia Cayetano, and her co-author was no other than Imee Marcos. And the current senatorial bets who voted in favor of the POGO Law were Tito Sotto, Manny Pacquaio, Ronald Bato dela Rosa, Bong Go, Bong Revilla, and Camille Villar's mom, Cynthia. There is a matter of official record.

Other senators who are not running but who also voted to legalize this reprehensible gambling were Sonny Angara (et tu, Brute?), Nancy Binay, Win Gatchalian, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva and, of all people, Koko Pimentel (what would your late father say?) and Migz Zubiri. Even the chairman of Blue Ribbon, Richard Gordon, supported that despicable law. And who voted against it? Only the following members of the conscience bloc voted against it: ever reliable former Senate President, former Justice Secretary and former DOLE secretary Franklin M. Drilon, together with the next vice president or even president, Risa Hontiveros and, of course, Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

Not too long ago, the POGO gambling hubs in Bamban, Tarlac, and Porac, Pampanga, were raided by the authorities and palpable evidence of many illegal practices were unearthed, including kidnapping, arbitrary and illegal detention, prostitution, kidnapping, and other immoral and unlawful activities. The senators and their counterpart congressmen who approved this law appeared now to have been in too much of a hurry, in the name of more taxes, at the expense of too many lives lost, thousands of families devastated, and countless of social ills perpetrated right under the very noses of our government officials and personnel.

Because of the POGO Law, the Philippine government has not realized the targeted revenues but the evils and social problems created by the gambling industry are beyond pecuniary estimation. The senators and the congressmen have failed the Filipino people by failing to consider the tremendous social costs that POGO entailed. The series of investigations conducted by both the Senate and the House pointed to one conclusion: the POGO Law is one of the worst legislative measures ever enacted in our Philippine legal system. When Congress enacts a law, there must be a clear good that is sought to be attained and a clear evil that is sought to be avoided. Are they aware of this?

If our legislators have nothing good to legislate, the best gift they can give to the people is not to legislate at all, and follow the track of Senators Lito Lapid and Robinhood Padilla, who remain mysteriously silent in the midst of all the noise and haste of this crazy world. Hence, there are no issues against them because they are always unseen and unheard, except during campaign periods. Now that these same trapos are running again and are asking for the nth time for our votes, are we still going to vote for them? For instance, Pacquiao and Sotto? Why don't they just focus on entertainment and sports where they are best at?

Senator Bong Go should work at the DSWD for his Malasakit. Bato should prepare for ICC, they are coming very soon. Bong Revilla's wife and two sons are already legislators, why should the country be governed by Cavite solons only, with Tolentino and Ping Lacson on the same ticket?

The nation is sick and tired of trapos and family dynasties. Why don't we choose the really qualified for a change this time?