Senator Joel Villanueva has introduced a bill to completely ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) in the country.
Senate Bill 2752 seeks to revoke the law taxing Pogos and permanently cancel all Pogo licenses issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and ecozones.
Villanueva emphasized the need to act on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order from his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) to halt all Pogo activities. The President’s directive follows numerous illegal activities linked to Pogos, including human trafficking, physical abuse, kidnapping, and even murder, as well as their disregard for Philippine laws.
“In compliance with the directive of President Marcos, we must also make sure that there is no more trace of Pogo in the Philippines,” Villanueva stated.
Villanueva highlighted the negative impact of Pogo operations, noting that the crimes and social issues associated with them far outweigh the tax benefits they provide.
If the bill becomes law, Pogos will have 30 days to cease operations. Non-compliance will result in severe penalties. Responsible officers could face 12 to 20 years in prison, a fine of P100 million, or both. Foreign offenders will be deported after serving their sentence.
The bill also aims to repeal Republic Act 11590, the Pogo tax law enacted in 2021. This law authorized the Bureau of Internal Revenue to collect unpaid taxes from Pogos and imposed additional taxes beyond the franchise tax on their operations.
Additionally, the proposed legislation includes a Workers’ Transition Program. The Department of Labor and Employment will implement this program, in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other relevant agencies, to support Filipino workers affected by the Pogo ban.
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