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Following calls from the country’s top business groups to phase out Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante, Jr. on Wednesday urged fellow legislators and the Executive Department to heed “the growing clamor from the business sector, our economic managers, and citizens to ban POGOs due to the adverse effects their […]
The government will have to decide whether it can root out the bad to preserve the good in the Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) industry. This was what House Committee on Labor and Employment chair and Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles had to say after his committee’s first meeting on Wednesday on an inquiry, […]
Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante on Wednesday stressed that reports of overstaying Philippines offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers and POGOs failing to remit the proper taxes to the government are “red flags” that the industry cannot be regulated and should be shut down. “The irregularities that have been reported and revealed in legislative inquiries regarding […]
The government should study the social costs of online gambling in the Philippines, not just the social costs of allowing Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the country. This was stressed on Friday by Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante, Jr., who said the recent spotlight on the negative impact of POGOs “should also be […]
Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers lauded the stance taken by a Filipino-Chinese anti-crime group for its strong support to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country due to their huge tax revenue shortfall and involvement in crimes. Barbers’ long-held crusade against POGOs started way back in November 2019 when he assailed […]
A ranking House leader warned against the ill effects of the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, saying that offshore gaming undermines the government’s battle against illegal drugs, graft and corruption, money-laundering, and other gambling-related crimes. Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, chairperson of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, reiterated […]
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III welcomed the pronouncement of fellow Senator Imee Marcos that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos is considering a ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country. “It’s a welcome development. Coming from the President’s sister herself, I would like to believe that we are moving in that direction of […]
Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) companies bring far more harm than good to the country and must be given the boot. This is according to longtime anti-gambling advocate Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante, Jr., who on Monday said: “The recent spate of crimes involving POGO employees contributes to the growing mountain of evidence that strengthens […]
Senator Joel Villanueva said he sees no reason why the Commission of Audit (COA) or the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) should withhold the names of the 15 Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) who owe the government some P1.365 billion in unpaid license fees. Villanueva said the government should not allow these 15 POGOs […]
With the government scraping its coffers to help provinces battered by Typhoon Rolly, Senator Joel Villanueva again reminded revenue generating agencies to shore up tax collection, beginning with exiting Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) firms which have some P50 billion in tax deficiencies. Villanueva urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ensure that it collects […]