President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is being called upon to revoke the licenses of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) catering to Chinese clientele.
An open letter dated July 15, signed by notable alumni of the University of the Philippines-College of Law, including retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former Senator Richard Gordon, and former Executive Secretary Oscar Orbos, recommended the immediate cancellation of these licenses.
The letter urged Marcos to direct the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to halt the operations of POGOs that target the Chinese mainland market. It cited an appeal from the Chinese Embassy in Manila, which highlighted that all forms of gambling, including online and overseas gambling, are illegal under Chinese law.
Additionally, the letter emphasized that Chinese-owned POGOs violate PAGCOR regulations, which prohibit gaming websites from being accessible in the Philippines or in countries where online gaming is banned.
The letter further alleged that POGO operations are often run by criminal syndicates involved in torture, sex trafficking, use of fake documents, tax evasion, and bribery. “There is no legal, moral, economic, or social justification to allow such POGOs to operate in the Philippines,” the signatories asserted.
The National Economic and Development Authority has expressed support for banning POGOs, despite the potential loss of P20 billion. Some senators also hope that Marcos will announce a total ban on POGOs during his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) next week.