Drilon Slams PAGCOR For Protecting POGO For Money
DRILON – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon expressed his disappointment towards PAGCOR for allowing POGO to continue to operate because of the income the county earns from the gambling industry.
Following a previous article, Senator Richard Gordon claimed that the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) covers for China spies. Illegal Chinese workers are recently repatriated to China.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) said they closely cooperate with the Chinese authorities to arrest Chinese workers with criminal records who are currently working at the country’s online gambling business.
Previously, Senator Kiko Pangilinan called for POGO’s immediate closure. “Bastusan na ito. We call for the immediate deportation of all Chinese nationals involved in prostitution, corruption, bribery, and other illegal activities,” he said.
POGO is also linked to money laundering activities. Senator Richard Gordon said over $633 million or P32 billion entered the Philippines from September to February.
Based on a report from GMA News, Senator Franklin Drilon called PAGCOR “stupid” for allowing POGO to continue its operations. He said that during the Senate probe regarding the alleged $600 million worth of ‘dirty money’ that was sneaked into the Philippines from September 2019 to March.
The politician said the Philippines is now facing prostitution, illegal workers, crime incidents, and the huge amount of ‘dirty money’ amid the thriving POGO industry.
“I am disappointed with the position of Pagcor that they are in favor of [continued] POGO [operation] in our shores because of the income we earn. That position is short sighted. The social problems that POGO has brought to our country is not worth the regulation fees you get from Pagcor. Let me tell that to your face.”
“You saw what happened to Multinational Village…the prostitution dens, all related to POGO. That statement, I must say, is a stupid statement that indicates the mindset we have: basta may pera na pumasok, we tolerate all these things,” he added.
According to the report, Anti Money Laundering Council Secretariat Executive Director Mel Georgie Recla said the POGO contributes about P7 billion to the Philippine economy. Sen. Franklin Drilon said, “that is only one-third of one percent. That is not worth it.”
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