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Phil-Asian Gaming Expo features offshore games targetting bettors outside the Philippines. Games can be played on desktop or mobile devices. Photos taken at the SMX Convention Center. July 12, 2019. Jessica Fenol, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros heaved a sigh of relief after hearing President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announce a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.“Nung patapos na si Presidente sa SONA niya akala ko hindi niya babanggitin ang POGO, hindi ako makapaniwala. Ito’y importanteng tagumpay para sa mamamayan,” Hontiveros said.  (When the President was about to end his SONA I thought she wouldn’t mention POGO, I couldn’t believe it. This is an important victory for our people.)Hontiveros, who leads the Senate hearing on POGOs, said their hearings and the hearings of other Committees could have contributed to the President’s consideration on the issue.Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who is also investigating POGOs with Hontiveros, thanked Marcos.“Sa wakas after two years banned na ang POGO sa ating bansa!” Gatchalian said.  (Finally after two years POGOs are banned in the country!)“Kinamayan ko nga kanina mahigpit niyang kinamayan ako at sabi nya ‘Nakikinig ako ha pinakikinggan ko kayo.’ It goes to show na ang ating Pangulo nakikinig at naririnig ang sentimyento ng taumbayan,” Gatchalian said.(I shook his hand earlier and he said ‘I listen to you, I am listening to you.’ It goes to show that the President listens to the sentiments of the people.)Gatchalian believes it took a while for the President to make the announcement because he studied it carefully, especially since Filipinos work in the POGO industry.Senator Grace Poe agrees with Gatchalian in saying that the President listens.“We’re so very hopeful and happy about that,” Poe said on Marcos’ POGO decision.She also cited the efforts of the government on agriculture, rising prices of commodities, education, infrastructure, and more importantly, the fight for the country’s territory.Poe gave the SONA a 99.8% mark, “Maganda dahil komprehensibo hindi lamang kung ano ang plano, kung hindi anong nagawa at higit sa lahat hindi tayo nagmukhang duwag.”(It was good because it was comprehensive not just what the plan is, but what has been done and most especially, we did not look like cowards.)Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Joel Villanueva praised Marcos for his action on POGOs.“At least kokonti na po itong kaso ng kidnapping, trafficking of women and children, at least pag banned na yan. Kapag meron tayong makitang ganitong klaseng nefarious activities, maisusumbong kaagad natin,” Zubiri remarked.(At least the cases of kidnapping, trafficking of women and children will lessen when POGOs are banned. When we see these kinds of nefarious activities, we can bring them immediately to the attention of authorities.)“We thank the president for heeding the call not only of his cabinet officials, not only of the economic managers, not only of the law enforcers but also of the Filipino people dahil nakita na ng taumbayan ang kalagiman na dulot nito (because they have seen the evil caused),” Villanueva, who is pushing for the ban on all online gambling, said.For Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, the ban on POGOs is “a welcome development” and gave the President a grade of 95 percent.

Senator Risa Hontiveros heaved a sigh of relief after hearing President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announce a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Senator Risa Hontiveros heaved a sigh of relief after hearing President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announce a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Senators praise, thank Marcos for POGO ban

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Senators praise, thank Marcos for POGO ban

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 22, 2024 10:49 PM PHT

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Updated July 23, 2024 02:31 AM PHT

Read More:

Senate

POGO

offshore gaming operations

SONA

State of the Nation Address

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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