SEN. Grace Poe yesterday denounced the decision of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to rebrand Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs), which she said was made to supposedly hide the industry’s illegal activities.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has announced it will start using the term IGL when referring to all offshore gaming companies that will be accredited or issued licenses to operate in the Philippines.
“The change in the name and acronym of internet gaming entities in the country should not be used to camouflage the illicit activities of POGOs. As PAGCOR embarks on this rebranding strategy, firm action should continue to run after POGOs that have breached Philippine laws,” Poe said.
PAGCOR chief executive officer and chairman Alejandro Tengco said they will be using “this new expression IGL from now on” following the relicensing of all formerly known POGO firms.
Tengco said they will soon come out with a full list of newly licensed IGLs.
“There will be 55 to 65 licenses issued and there will no longer be service provider licenses. It will be just IGL license,” Tengco said.
Poe said senators have “enough proof” to show how POGO operations led to the commission of crimes, including human trafficking, entry of undesirable aliens, tax evasion, kidnapping, illegal drugs, and serious illegal detention, among others.
“The negative effects of POGOs clearly overshadow the supposed gains from their operations. We remain hopeful that a definite policy on internet gaming companies will soon be laid down,” she said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the difference between POGOs and IGLs remain unclear to him.
“I’m not very sure kung mag-o-operate sila sa abroad, hindi na rito. So, I have to talk to them (I’m not sure if these IGLs will operate abroad or here in the country. So, I have to talk to them (PAGCOR),” Gatchalian said.
He said if the IGLs will operate in the country, these will be no different from the POGOs. If that will be the case, he said he will also object to their presence in the country just like how he has objected to the operations of POGOs.
“Kung maaalis sila, wala na tayong problema dahil hindi tatahimik ang bansa hanggang nandito ang mga taong iyon (If they [POGO] will leave the country, we will have no more problems because our country will not be peaceful with these POGOs around),” he added.
Gatchalian’s Committee on Ways and Means has proposed the gradual termination of all POGO operations in the country.
The committee report has called on his colleagues to adopt a resolution urging the Executive branch to stop POGO operations, while urging the labor department to look for alternative employment opportunities for the would-be displaced Filipinos working in POGOs.
The report also called on the Bureau of Immigration to cancel and revoke working visas issued to foreigners employed in POGO firms and implement their deportation following immigration rules and regulations.
The committee report has yet to gain more signatures from committee members before it can be discussed in plenary.
Citing PNP records, Gatchalian said there were 4,355 POGO-related crimes reported from January 2017 to June this year involving 903 suspects.