SONA Audience Cheers on Pres. Marcos Directive over POGOs
MARCOS – Philippine President Bongbong Marcos ordered a ban of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the Philippines.
One of the loudest issues in the Philippines now is about the illegal operations of some Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs in the country. It sparked calls to ban POGOs in the country. Prior to his 3rd State of the Nation Address, the President was silent on the calls.
![Bongbong Marcos](http://philnews.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bongbong-Marcos.jpg)
Yesterday, July 22, Pres. Bongbong Marcos delivered the SONA 2024 at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City. He tackled several different key issues in the country as well as the goals and priorities of his administration.
The President talked about the pursuit for salary increase for the government workers most especially the teachers as well as the POGO operations in the country. The event was attended by several politicians but Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was not present and her office also said that she won’t watch it on TV or gadgets.
![President Bongbong Marcos](http://philnews.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/President-Bongbong-Marcos.jpg)
During the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Pres. Bongbong Marcos, the Chief Executive ordered a ban of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country. His announcement earned cheers from the audience of the national address.
![Pres. Bongbong Marcos](http://philnews.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pres.-Bongbong-Marcos.jpg)
The President ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to reduce and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of 2024. He also mandated the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to find new jobs for the Filipinos who will lose their work because of POGO closures.
In his speech for SONA, Pres. Bongbong Marcos slammed POGOs for the illegal activities that they were engaged in. He stressed that the disrespect to the system of laws must stop.
PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco reacted to the directive of the President over the POGOs. According to Tengco, he is ready to implement the order of the chief executive within the coming months. However, he is concerned that it may lead to a massive operations of illegal POGOs and he believes that it needs a coordination with law enforcement agencies.
Senator Risa Hontiveros lauded the order of Pres. Bongbong Marcos to ban the POGOs in the Philippines. She stressed that it is a big victory for the women and the children as well as the whistleblowers who reported against the POGOs.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission is also happy over the order of the President. Several lawmakers also expressed their support to it.
One of the people linked to the illegal POGO operations in the country is suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. Currently, despite the Senate arrest order, Mayor Guo has yet to be located by the authorities.