Drilon tells Pagcor not to woo POGOs back

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THE Philippine government should refrain from wooing back investors and foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon yesterday said as he welcomed the reported exit from the country of POGO businesses.

“That’s good news. Let them go. Hindi po natin kawalan ang POGOS. Huwag po natin silang habulin (It is not our loss. Let’s not run after them). Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) should stop playing a lover to POGOs. It should abandon any effort to woo them back,” Drilon said.

Drilon issued the statement following reports quoting the Pagcor that at least two POGOs have left the country and more are expected to leave amid the industry’s tax issues with the government.

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In a statement, Pagcor chief executive officer Andrea Domingo said that Suncity, a unit of Macau’s gambling giant Suncity group, has already left the country. Suncity is one of Asia’s leading casino junket operators.

Aside from Suncity, Pagcorb said Don Tencess Asian Solutions has also officially sought for the cancellation of its license.

Domingo said there are other POGOs which are leaving the country but have yet to make official their moves.

The government allowed the partial resumption of the POGO industry in May while most parts of the country were still under enhanced community quarantine provided they settle their unpaid taxes with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Official figures show that the amount has now reached P70 billion from only around P50 billion as of December last year.

The government said it allowed the partial POGO operations to generate funds, pointing out that taxes from the gaming operators were badly need to help in the fight against COVID-19.

Last week, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said they are looking into claims that only two of the more than 50 POGOs have settled their tax obligations.

The DOF said revenues from POGOs should reach as much as P20 billion per year but collections only reached P6 billion in 2019.

POGOs do not pay franchise taxes due to issues of jurisdiction, saying they just use the country as platforms for accepting online bets which are placed outside of the Philippines.

Drilon said the country’s tax laws are very clear that POGOs should pay franchise and withholding taxes.

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