Is PAGCOR campaigning for POGO?

WHILE CHINA opposes the operation of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is seemingly campaigning for the continuation of the POGO.

Senator Grace Poe also chided PAGCOR for allowing the POGO operations despite its awareness that such form of gambling has been declared illegal in China. She noted that PAGCOR’s position is that POGOs should not be banned in the Philippines.

She said PAGCOR also insisted that it does not allow the marketing of online gambling in jurisdictions where it is not allowed, even as most POGOs and service operators in the Philippines cater to Chinese nationals.

“Are you just turning a blind eye? Because if you can tell us categorically that there are no players from China, because it is prohibited, that's a big lie. Basically, we are condoning them to violate their own laws. You are allowing these POGOs to operate here knowing full well that their clients or their customers are from a country where online gaming is illegal,” Poe told PAGCOR officials during a recent hearing. 

China’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, has repeatedly warned that the proliferation of crime linked to POGO are harmful to relations between the two nations, adding Beijing strongly opposes all forms of gambling and will continue to take strong measures against it.

 

“According to the Chinese laws and regulations, gambling in whatever form by Chinese citizens, be it online gambling or gambling overseas, is illegal. Crimes induced by and associated with online gambling not only harm China’s interests and China-Philippines relations, but also hurt the interests of the Philippines,” he said.

Senator Francis Escudero said at least 36 POGO-related criminal cases were recorded from October 1, 2021 to September 24, 2022, or since the law was passed. He cited two cases of trafficking in person; kidnap-for-ransom, 19 cases; kidnapping with serious illegal detention, two cases; and one case of less serious physical injuries. 

Escudero said in 2019, a total of 496,620 POGO-related criminal incidents were recorded; and in 2020, there were 394, 468 criminal incidents reported; and in 2021, there were 375,731 cases. 

Duterte 

POGO operations started during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte despite the proliferation of crimes such as money laundering, prostitution, and human trafficking. 

The Anti-Money Laundering Council also reported that P14 billion of the P54 billion in transactions by POGO operators from 2017 to 2019 was linked to suspicious activities, including drug trafficking.

Duterte had refused to shut down the POGO operations, citing the huge revenues the government gets from the gambling industry. (Bibo Nueva España, Mindanao Examiner)