AN association of active and retired generals and flag officers wants the immediate closure of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) throughout the country due to their negative effects to society.
Joining the calls of lawmakers and groups, the Association of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO) said POGO firms across the country should be shut down “as they pose serious security risk to the social fabric of the society and greatly undermine government efforts to curb corruption.”
In a statement on Wednesday, the president and board chairman of AGFO, retired Vice Admiral Emilio Marayag, noted that many of the POGO firms operating in the country are involved in various criminal activities.
“Many of these gambling outlets are used as fronts by organized crime groups for human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping, cyber scam, illegal drug trade, torture, surveillance and cyber attack on government agencies and other offenses that severely threaten Filipino values and security,” Marayag said
Authorities have raided numerous illegal POGO hubs in the past years due to involvement in human trafficking, kidnapping, and illegal detention, among others.
The latest illegal POGO hub to be raided was the Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga two weeks ago. The hub was raided based on information that it was involved in human trafficking, prostitution and kidnapping.
“They not only adversely affect the income, growth and investment opportunities of legitimate gaming sites like the casinos but also create negative perception of gambling that deters players from considering legal gaming establishments,” said Marayag.
Marayag said 85 percent of some 300 POGOs in the country lack valid documents. These illegal firms, he said, “have to bribe government officials to buy their silence and cooperation.”
“This unholy alliance between the POGOs and government officials attracts criminal syndicates to engage in illegal activities leading to national insecurity,” he said.
“AGFO re-echoes the President’s ‘zero tolerance policy for corruption and human rights abuses’ as the Association calls on the government to nip the bud of national insecurity brought about by the POGO at the soonest,” he added.
POGO WORKERS
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday said that aside from 20,000 Filipino workers, an estimated 8,000 foreigners stand to lose their jobs when POGOs are banned in the country.
In a radio interview, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said that some 8,000 foreign nationals, all of whom were issued with Alien Employment Permit (AEPs), are working in POGO firms.
“From January to April this year, we have issued AEPs for this type of business operation is more than 8,000 workers,” said Laguesma, adding that while POGOs are identified with the Chinese, POGO hubs employ a large number of Vietnamese.
“There are now more Vietnamese. Chinese only come in second. There are also other nationalities, like Indonesian and Thai,” he said.
On Wednesday, DOLE said at least 20,000 Filipino workers are expected to be displaced in the event that POGOs are banned. Laguesma said that he has already ordered the profiling of POGO workers who stand to lose their jobs.
On Thursday, the labor chief said they are also set to look into the potential effect of a ban on POGO to the foreigners.
“Our priority, though, shall remain on its potential effect to our own workforce,” he said, explaining that such attention to foreign workers is warranted considering that the country also deploy overseas Filipino workers.
“We want our OFWs to be treated well. But it cannot be just a one-way treatment,” said Laguesma. — With Gerard Naval
