House Committee on Human Rights Chair and Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante called on his fellow legislators to pass pending legislation that would permanently ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), warning that failure to do so would leave the door open for their eventual return.
“The President made the right decision in declaring a ban on POGOs, but we must ensure that this policy cannot be easily reversed by future administrations,” Abante, longtime anti-gambling advocate, said.
“Without a law in place, there is always a risk that these POGOs will be allowed back in, bringing with them the same lawlessness, corruption, and crime that we have already seen,” the veteran legislator added.
Abante, one of the principal authors of House Bill No. 10987, or the Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act—a measure seeking to prohibit POGOs in the Philippines—pointed to the latest reports of kidnappings linked to the industry as further proof that POGOs are a breeding ground for criminal syndicates.
“The latest kidnapping case is just another example of how POGOs go hand in hand with organized crime in our country.”
“The latest kidnapping case is just another example of how POGOs go hand in hand with organized crime in our country. From human trafficking to financial fraud, prostitution rings to drug-related offenses—this industry has done nothing but harm our people,” the seasoned lawmaker lamented.
He cited findings from law enforcement agencies that showed a direct link between POGOs and a wave of violent crimes, including the recent high-profile abduction of a 14-year-old Chinese student in Manila. The kidnappers, a group of former POGO operators and their hired security personnel, brutally murdered the victim’s driver, severed the student’s fingertip, and demanded ransom before ultimately abandoning the child after being pursued by authorities.
“This is not an isolated case,” Abante warned. “The DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) has confirmed that every single kidnapping incident recorded this year involved foreigners linked to POGO operations. We cannot allow this cycle of crime to continue.”
As one of the co-chairs of the House Quad Comm investigating POGO-related crimes, he stressed that their inquiry has exposed the depth of criminality tied to these offshore gambling operators.
“POGOs are not just an economic issue, they are a peace and order issue.”
Abante pointed out that “our hearings have made it clear that POGOs are not just an economic issue, they are a peace and order issue. This is not about regulation, because evidence already proves that POGOs are ungovernable. POGO regulation is impossible; they are inherently criminal and must be eliminated.”
He urged Congress to move swiftly on the pending legislation banning POGOs, saying it was the only way to prevent future administrations from quickly reversing the current ban.
“If we are serious about public safety and national security, we must shut POGOs out for good. We have the opportunity to do what is right, so let’s do it and close our doors to POGOs once and for all,” Abante stressed.
He also called for a broader discussion on the dangers of gambling in general and online gambling in particular, warning that POGOs are not the only form of internet-based betting operations that expose the country to crime and corruption.
“If we recognize that POGOs are dangerous and ungovernable, we must also ask whether other forms of gambling pose the same risks, especially online gambling which can victimize our youth. The same vulnerabilities of POGOs exist in many of these platforms,” Abante added.
He called on his colleagues in Congress to begin evaluating whether a more comprehensive approach to gambling is needed after experience the painful lessons of POGOs.
“Let us take this opportunity not just to ban POGOs, but to reexamine our entire policy on gambling—especially online gambling! If an industry fosters crime more than it benefits the public, then perhaps it has no place in our country at all,” Abante concluded.
