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Politics

MAKE EXITING POGO COMPANIES PAY TAXES OWED – VILLANUEVA

The reported exodus of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) due to tax issues shows how little, if at all, are their economic contribution to the country, especially with their unwillingness to pay the correct taxes, Senator Joel Villanueva said. At every instance when legislators called out POGOs for violating the country’s laws, the government bent […]

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Politics

PROBE PAGCOR FOR LOBBYING FOR POGO ECQ EXCEPTION – PANGILINAN, HONTIVEROS

Senators Risa Hontiveros and Kiko Pangilinan is calling for a Senate inquiry in aid of legislation into the alleged lobbying by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to exclude Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) from the strict coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine measures. Senate Resolution No. 396 comes after the gaming regulator allowed POGOs to […]

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Politics

ABANTE FILES HOUSE BILL TO MAKE PH A ‘NO-POGO ZONE’

A bill recently filed by House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr. seeks to declare the whole country a “no-POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations) zone,” prohibiting the operations of an industry the bill calls a “social menace and a source of unimaginable corruption.” House Bill Number 6701 or the Anti-POGO Act of 2020, expressly prohibits the […]

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Politics

HOUSE LEADER BUCKS POGO REOPENING AMID COVID-19 OUTBREAK

House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr. has slammed plans to allow Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) to operate in the country as it grapples with the Covid-19 outbreak, categorizing the move as “premature and unwise given our experience with this industry.”“The reopening of POGOs, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), is contingent […]

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Politics

DEPORT 44 ARRESTED CHINESE NATIONALS, KEEP POGOS CLOSED — ABANTE

House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr. on Tuesday urged the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to deport the 44 Chinese nationals who were arrested during a raid on an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) center in Parañaque City, as he again cautioned the government against lifting the ban on POGOs during the Enhanced Community Quarantine […]

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Politics

REJECT CALL FOR RESUMPTION OF POGO OPERATIONS – PANGILINAN

On efforts to resume operations of Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators (POGOs) initiated by administration officials and allies, Senator Kiko Pangilinan lamented the prioritization of the welfare of China in the guise of “boosting state funds” for the fight against COVID-19. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Chairman Andrea Domingo recently said she had written President […]

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Politics

GOVT TO SEND CONFLICTING SIGNALS ON ECQ IF POGOS RESUME OPERATIONS – ABANTE

“Resolve issues first, allow operations later.” This sums up the position of House Minority Leader Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. regarding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) resuming operations in the Philippines. “Gambling, in all shapes and forms, is not essential. It is a vice.” The lawmaker on Wednesday cautioned government against allowing POGOs to reopen given […]

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Government

POGOs CLOSED DURING COVID-19 QUARANTINE – NOGRALES

Operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) are temporarily suspended while the enhanced community quarantine to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is being enforced in Luzon, a Palace official said. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that aside from malls and hotels, the operation of POGOs are also suspended until COVID-19 situation in the country […]

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Politics

MONEY LAUNDERING ISSUES ARISE FROM POGO – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon has revealed information that link Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) now operating in the country to money laundering activities. Gordon pointed out that inordinate and suspiciously large amount of foreign currency–$470-million brought in by 47 individuals from September 2019 to February 2020 alone — without being flagged is an apparent money laundering […]

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Politics

HUNT DOWN CHINESE CRIME SYNDICATES IN POGO INDUSTRY – GATCHALIAN

Concerned that Filipino workers will soon be targeted next, Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to hunt down Chinese crime syndicates in the country’s POGO industry, arrest them and bring them to jail. Gatchalian made the call amid reports […]