BY RAYMOND AFRICA and WENDELL VIGILIA
LAWMAKERS yesterday welcomed President Marcos Jr’s order banning operations of Philippine offshore gambling operators (POGOs) in the country, saying it shows the chief executive is listening to the public.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, whose Committee on Women is leading investigations into POGO-related crimes, said the ban is a huge victory for the country.
“POGOs have brought innumerable and unspeakable social ills into the country. I commend the President for his resolute pronouncement,” she said.
“Very categorical, very effective. Today, POGOs are already banned. They will just wind down and all the Filipinos working in the industry will be helped by the government in getting employed,” she said in mixed Filipino and English.
Hontiveros also said the Senate hearings will still continue despite the POGO ban to ensure that policies will be made to prevent similar industries from entering the country.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Marcos realizing the ills of POGOs is proof that the industry is destroying the country.
“Very decisive. We need decisive leaders because we are faced with many problems. I gave him a perfect score,” he said.
Gatchalian also said the Senate will now study a proposal to ban online games.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the House committee on dangerous drugs, expressed elation that the President has finally ordered a ban on POGOs, saying it only showed that Marcos Jr. is a “listening President.”
“I was happy about that announcement,” he said. “The President made a national policy statement which we never expected. I know that BBM is a listening president and heard the strong clamor of the people to totally ban POGOs in the country.”
Rep. Eduardo Villanueva (PL, Cibac) also backed the POGO ban, saying it is a welcome development to his party-list groups’ anti-gambling advocacy.
“Since Day 1, we have been saying that POGO is not of God, will do the country harm, and will invite divine wrath and curses to our nation. In fact, its ill-effects are already manifested by various social costs which far outweigh its alleged benefits. The President’s POGO ban should ultimately refresh government resolve to stamp out all forms of gambling in the country. We earnestly hope and pray that this policy will be translated into complete implementation,” said the father of Sen. Joel Villanueva.
POGOs emerged in 2016 during the administration of Rodrigo Duterte, with companies setting up shop and targeting overseas markets, including China where gambling is banned.
Marcos, in his state of the nation address yesterday, said POGOs have ventured into illegal activities such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture and even murder.
FIRM STANCE
Senate President pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada said he was “more than satisfied in the President’s SONA.”
“I am proud to hear the President reaffirm his firm stance on defending our country’s territorial and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. His unwavering commitment provides strong assurance in protecting our national interests and sovereignty. ATIN ang West Philippine Sea,” Estrada said.
“Additionally, I fully support his decision to ban POGOs. This decisive action, prompted by the negative impacts of POGO operations, is crucial for maintaining social order and safeguarding the welfare of our citizens,” he added.
Sen. Grace Poe said the President’s SONA covered the important sectors of society from infrastructure, overseas Filipino workers, territorial integrity, education, agriculture, and most of all the order to ban POGO operations which she was waiting for.
Poe said the President truly listened to the concerns of the Filipinos and at the same time offered solutions.
Sen. Mark Villar said the President’s order on banning POGOs was “strongly worded.”
“His statement was very strong… You can see by the reaction that everybody was pleased,” he said.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said he was very happy with the President’s statements on matters concerning POGOs and the West Philippine Sea.
“We really applauded him, and of course, the banning of POGOs, congrats to the Republic of the Philippines, we will see less crimes of kidnapping trafficking of women and children.
Now that POGOs are banned, our citizens can immediately report them and these POGOs cannot reason out that they have permits to operate),” he said in Filipino.
Sen. Joel Villanueva thanked the President for heeding the people’s clamor to ban POGOs.
“Our President did not fail the people… We agree with the President’s statement that ‘evil triumphs when good men do nothing.’ Thus, we continue to call for the prohibition not only of POGOs, but all forms of online gambling in the country. Likewise, we urge Pagcor to promptly enforce the President’s directive
WPS, POVERTY
Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela), a member of the militant Makabayan bloc, said the President should “should walk the talk.”
She said POGOs should have long been banned.
On the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, Brosas accused Marcos Jr. of “false patriotism.”
“How can he claim the West Philippine Sea is ours when he has allowed increased US military presence in our country? From the Balikatan exercises to the war-provoking missile system in Ilocos Norte, and now the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement and the Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (123 Agreement), this administration is turning our nation into a playground for foreign military powers,” she said.
Rep. France Castro (PL, ACT), another member of the Makabayan bloc, gave the President a failing grade, criticizing the “lack of concrete plans to address poverty and inequality in the country.”
For government employees including teachers, Castro said the supposed fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) “is still just a promise and may again be a pittance like the SSL V, other salary adjustments, and the P35 minimum wage increase in NCR.”
“Also, instead of making job orders (JOs) and contract of service (COS) workers regular, Pres. Marcos Jr. will just extend their exploitation. As we have said before, we demand an end to endo in government,” she said.
Speaker Martin Romualdez said among the many accomplishments of the administration is “transforming the Philippine economy into the strongest in Southeast Asia would be the crowning glory of his second year as Chief Executive.”
“Our economic growth is nothing short of astounding, and the administration’s infrastructure development and social amelioration programs have ensured that ordinary Filipinos benefit from the nation’s progress,” he said.
Romualdez pointed out that the country has surpassed Vietnam as the fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia, as recognized by international financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Sen. Christoper Go said he did not personally hear the third SONA because he had to take a “stress test” to determine if he is fit to go places.
In a video message posted on his Facebook account, Go said he watched the SONA message while on a treadmill undergoing the stress test.
He said past assurances made during SONAs have been important to the people but putting them into action is another thing.
“I hope and pray that the administration will give priority to programs that will directly benefit and uplift the lives of the poor particularly in strengthening our healthcare system as well as reducing inflation. Importante na may laman ang tiyan at walang magutom na Pilipino (But what is most important is that no Filipino should go hungry),” he added.
Go’s office said the senator is in Metro Manila.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, another Duterte ally, also skipped the SONA. His office has yet to respond to inquiries but earlier, he said he might not be able to attend the SONA due to a painful knee caused by osteoarthritis.
Vice President Sara Duterte, as earlier declared, did not attend the SONA.
“The Vice President will not watch the SONA on TV or gadgets. She is currently in Bohol to empathize with the Boholanos for the death of their Vice Governor (Dionisio Balite), as well as to uplift the general mood of the people brought about by the suspension of their duly-elected local officials,” said a statement from the Office of the Vice President.
