House OKs consolidation of 4 bills banning POGOs

MANILA, Philippines — A committee of the House of Representatives yesterday approved the consolidation of four pending measures aimed at permanently prohibiting Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) in the country, as ordered by President Marcos.

The consolidation of House Bills 10725, 10636, 10725 and 10987, which shall now be named the proposed Anti-POGO Act, was approved by the House committee on games and amusements, chaired by Cavite 6th District Rep. Antonio Ferrer.

Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva, the principal author of the consolidated measure, expressed his gratitude to his House colleagues for approving the bill, which he said was a “decisive move to protect the nation from POGOs’ negative impact.”

“The operation of POGOs in the Philippines has proven detrimental to our society, with an alarming association with serious crimes such as kidnapping, prostitution, human trafficking, drugs, financial fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, corruption and even killings,” Villanueva said.

“These activities are neither of God nor in line with the values we uphold as a people,” he added.

POGOs have caused various crimes and compromised the nation’s moral and social integrity, according to the preacher-legislator, who founded the Jesus is Lord movement.

“It is not surprising why POGOs (have) ill effects, such as crimes, corruption and even deaths because from the very start, gambling is not the will of God and anything out of God is sure to bring harm to us,” Villanueva said.

The senior administration lawmaker also asserted that the shutdown order from Marcos “is not enough for a long-term solution if we are to ban POGOs once and for all.”

“A legislative ban will ensure that POGOs cannot simply rebrand or return once the current administration ends. This is a stand that must extend beyond this presidency; it’s a defense for generations to come,” Villanueva emphasized.

In addition, the POGO ban bill mandates the provision of a transition program to help Filipino workers who will be affected by the closure of POGOs.

Villanueva expressed hope that Congress would pass the measure before its break in December.

Pro-active approach vs AEPs

For Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the government, particularly the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), should adopt a proactive approach to cancel POGO workers’ alien employment permits (AEPs) and eventually deport them to their respective countries.

“POGO entities are morphing into something else so they can stay in the country and continue their scamming activities,” Gatchalian noted as he interpellated on the DOLE’s proposed budget for 2025.

“We need a very proactive approach to cancel and eventually send these workers to their countries of origin, and we need the entire government machinery to work together to cut the legal basis for these individuals to stay in the Philippines,” he added.

At the same time, Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, urged the DOLE to step up its employment facilitation programs for Filipino POGO workers to ensure that those displaced by the ban would be absorbed by the labor market.

“This is one of the things that we are worried about – the displacement of Filipino workers. So I urge the department to continue with job fairs and other programs for local POGO workers so that displaced workers would be given meaningful jobs,” Gatchalian said.

About 27,590 Filipinos are employed by POGOs, according to the DOLE.

It said about 15,819 AEPs were issued this year alone and about 36,000 AEPs had already been canceled since Marcos announced in July a ban on POGOs by the end of the year.

The DOLE said it is closely coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration to ensure that the working visas of foreigners with POGO-related AEPs are canceled and they are prevented from staying illegally in the country. — Cecille Suerte Felipe