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Senator Mark Villar Digs Deeper Into POGO Ban: 'We Barely Scratched The Surface'
Photo credit: Senate PH
The fight against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) isn’t over yet—far from it. Despite the government's clear deadline for shutting down all POGO operations by December 31, 2024, some still seem to be finding ways to stick around. And Senator Mark Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusements, is determined to find out why.
In the latest public hearing on the POGO ban, Senator Villar raised serious concerns about the lingering presence of these offshore gaming operations, despite President Bongbong Marcos’ firm directive in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA). What started as an inquiry into the status of POGO closures has now uncovered a much bigger issue—fake documents and possible government collusion.
The “Missing Link” in the POGO Puzzle
One major revelation in the hearing? Some foreign POGO workers have allegedly secured fraudulent but official-looking documents—marriage certificates, birth certificates, even passports with Filipino names. And they didn’t do it alone. Travel and visa consultancy agencies appear to have played a big role, raising suspicions of an “inside job” within government agencies.
“Last February 4, nagkaroon po ng joint entrapment operation ang PAOCC sa travel agency na nag-i-issue ng mga pekeng dokumento sa foreign nationals,” Villar revealed. “Ilan sa kanilang mga napepeke ay marriage certificates, birth certificates, at passports ng mga foreign nationals na gamit ang Filipino name.”
Villar called this the “missing link” in the POGO issue, emphasizing that these illegal agencies must have connections with government offices to pull off such an operation.
“Hindi po malayo na mayroon silang kasabwat upang makapag-issue ng mga pekeng dokumento sa mga foreign nationals. This new discovery makes us realize that we barely scratched the surface of this POGO issue.”
POGOs’ “Contribution” vs. Social Cost
While some argue that POGOs bring economic benefits, Villar was firm in his stance that the harm they cause outweighs any financial gain.
“Sa dami ng mga naglabasan na issue na ito, naniniwala po tayo na talagang the social cost of POGOs outweighs their supposed economic contribution,” he stressed. “With all the reports of human trafficking, scamming, and abuse, we cannot just sit idly by as these POGOs continuously operate in our land.”
The senator made it clear—closing POGOs is one thing, but cracking down on those helping them stay in the country illegally is another battle that needs to be fought. The next hearings will delve deeper into how these foreign workers obtained fake documents, the agencies responsible, and the steps to finally deport them.
With these shocking discoveries, it’s clear that this issue runs deeper than just illegal gambling. As Senator Villar and the government continue their crackdown, the question remains—just how deep does this go?
In the latest public hearing on the POGO ban, Senator Villar raised serious concerns about the lingering presence of these offshore gaming operations, despite President Bongbong Marcos’ firm directive in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA). What started as an inquiry into the status of POGO closures has now uncovered a much bigger issue—fake documents and possible government collusion.
The “Missing Link” in the POGO Puzzle
One major revelation in the hearing? Some foreign POGO workers have allegedly secured fraudulent but official-looking documents—marriage certificates, birth certificates, even passports with Filipino names. And they didn’t do it alone. Travel and visa consultancy agencies appear to have played a big role, raising suspicions of an “inside job” within government agencies.
“Last February 4, nagkaroon po ng joint entrapment operation ang PAOCC sa travel agency na nag-i-issue ng mga pekeng dokumento sa foreign nationals,” Villar revealed. “Ilan sa kanilang mga napepeke ay marriage certificates, birth certificates, at passports ng mga foreign nationals na gamit ang Filipino name.”
Villar called this the “missing link” in the POGO issue, emphasizing that these illegal agencies must have connections with government offices to pull off such an operation.
“Hindi po malayo na mayroon silang kasabwat upang makapag-issue ng mga pekeng dokumento sa mga foreign nationals. This new discovery makes us realize that we barely scratched the surface of this POGO issue.”
POGOs’ “Contribution” vs. Social Cost
While some argue that POGOs bring economic benefits, Villar was firm in his stance that the harm they cause outweighs any financial gain.
“Sa dami ng mga naglabasan na issue na ito, naniniwala po tayo na talagang the social cost of POGOs outweighs their supposed economic contribution,” he stressed. “With all the reports of human trafficking, scamming, and abuse, we cannot just sit idly by as these POGOs continuously operate in our land.”
The senator made it clear—closing POGOs is one thing, but cracking down on those helping them stay in the country illegally is another battle that needs to be fought. The next hearings will delve deeper into how these foreign workers obtained fake documents, the agencies responsible, and the steps to finally deport them.
With these shocking discoveries, it’s clear that this issue runs deeper than just illegal gambling. As Senator Villar and the government continue their crackdown, the question remains—just how deep does this go?
Feb 13, 2025
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