By Junex Doronio
MANILA — What’s in a name?
Amid the skepticism of some quarters that the Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) can get away with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s marching order to ban them all, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chairman Alejandro Tengco has assured lawmakers that he will see to it that the ban will cover even the 43 remaining legal POGOs— now called internet gaming licensees (IGLs) by the gaming regulator— that have valid licenses to operate.
On Tuesday (23 July 2024), Tengco explained to the House’s joint committees on public order, safety, games, and amusement that the term IGL was only coined after he assumed office last year.
Tengco claimed that he oversaw the implementation of stricter regulations for POGOs and rebranded them to rid these Chinese-centric gaming operators of the “stigma” associated with them.
But he cannot ax all POGOs by himself.
“I cannot wind down the operations of illegal Pogos because those are not within my jurisdiction. But the 43 in my jurisdiction, that’s clear, I will wind them down,” Tengco said.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro asked Tengco about the difference between POGOs and IGLs, as they expressed apprehension that the ambiguity in wording could leave loopholes in enforcing the ban.
“Congressmen, I am not in disagreement (with the directive), and as I told this committee in the previous hearing, I will follow the President’s orders and what he said was very clear,” Tengco stressed.
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Despite its initial resistance, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has no choice but to follow the marching order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to close down all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) that mushroomed during the previous Duterte administration and have been linked to various criminal activities.
Pagcor earlier claimed that the POGO ban would affect some 40,000 workers and would translate to a P40-billion annual revenue loss.
But Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman earlier said POGOs bring in between P40 billion and P50 billion in revenues, which she described as “small.”
“That [amount] can be done through efficiency and our revenue generation,” she said.
The Department of Finance (DOF) also said the Philippines loses over P99 billion annually due to POGO operations.
“Kailangan nang itigil ang panggulo nito sa ating lipunan at paglalapastangan sa ating bansa,” the President stressed in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday (22 July 2024).
“Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” Marcos Jr boomed which was met by thunderous applause from lawmakers and guests who also gave the President several standing ovations.
Marcos Jr. ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) “to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year.”
Pagcor Chairman Alejandro Tengco claimed that some 40,000 Filipino workers will be directly affected by the POGO ban.
“May utos din siya (PBBM) sa [Department of Labor and Employment] at economic managers na masusing pag-aralan kung paano matutulungan ‘yung maapektuhan ng utos na isara ang mga kumpanya ng POGO,” Tengco said in a radio interview.
On Monday (22 July 2024), Marcos Jr. ordered a ban on all POGOs nationwide due to their involvement in criminal activities, saying the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. must “wind down and cease the operation of POGOs by the end of the year.”
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA – In due time, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chief will unmask the Cabinet official under the administration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who had lobbied for the granting of licenses to some illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
This was confirmed on Monday (July 1, 2024) by Pagcor Assistant Vice President for External Communications Jun Alano who told Maharlika NuMedia that only his boss, Pagcor chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco knew the identity of the former Cabinet official.
“Si Chairman Al Tengco lang talaga ang nakakilala sa opisyal na yun ni ex-President Duterte na nag-lobby. Wala namang Pogo nung panahon ni (late President) Noynoy Aquino,” Alano quipped.
The POGOs mushroomed in 2016 as Duterte pursued closer trade and investment ties with China.
Several Filipinos have complained against POGOs because they employ mainly Chinese workers and target customers in China where gambling is illegal.
Some POGOs have even been linked to investment fraud.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has estimated some 100 illegal POGO facilities still operating in the country.
But Alano noted that there are only 42 POGOs licensed under Pagcor.
“Sabi naman po ni Chairman Al Tengco ay sa tamang lugar po babanggitin niya at ibibulgar niya ang pangalan kaya siguro po baka maghihintay na lang si Chairman ng formal na imbestigasyon kung halimbawa man ay sa Senado,” Alano said earlier in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) on Thursday (13 June 2024) revealed that some 250 Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) that were not granted licenses by the country’s gaming regulator may have gone “underground” or have links with criminal syndicates.
This came on the heels of Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.’s statement that the POGOs now pose a national security concern.
“Ang problema po talaga, hindi yung mga licensees ng Pagcor, kundi yung humigit kumulang siguro 250 dyan na mga hindi na napagkalooban ng lisensya muli ay patuloy pa rin ang kanilang paghahanapbuhay na ilegal,” PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said in an interview on TeleRadyo.
PAGCOR noted that unlicensed POGOs include the hub in Porac, Pampanga, where authorities recently found suspected illegal drugs, alleged Chinese army uniforms, and evidence of supposed torture and scam operations.
“They’re involved not in gaming activities, but puro po criminal activities,” Tengco clarified.
Pagcor earlier argued that authorities “do not need to outlaw POGOs.”
“What we need to do is intensify anti-crime operations against suspected alien hackers, against scammers and cyber-criminals who are usually hiding in highly secured buildings and compounds,” Tengco recently said.
He further noted that only 46 POGOs are licensed and have rebranded as “internet gaming licensees” or IGLs.
The PAGCOR top honcho said most of them are located in Metro Manila.
“Wala pong licensed POGO hub na katabi ng any military camp… Maliwanag po ‘yan ilegal na naman ‘yung sinasabing hubs na nakadikit sa military hubs,” Tengco said.
However, he bared that three licensed POGOs were recently suspended.
“‘Yung tatlo po naramdaman namin na mayroon ding gawaing hindi nauukol sa…ilalim ng mga bagong regulasyon ng Pagcor,” Tengco said.
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Nice Celario
BILANG pagtupad sa commitment sa pagpapalakas ng socio-civic activities, inilatag ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) ang kanilang flagship projects.
Isa na rito ang pagpapatayo ng iba’t ibang school buildings kasama ang e-Learning Centers para makasabay sa pamamaraan ng pagtuturo.
Sa isang press conference, sinabi ni PAGCOR Vice President Ramon Stephen Villaflor na bukod sa pagpapatayo ng mga school building, popondohan din ng PAGCOR ng P2 milyon ang pagbili ng kagamitan para sa Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology Laboratory sa Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University; P4.19 milyon ang pagbili ng iba’t ibang medical equipment; P40 milyon ang konstruksiyon ng 4-storey school building sa Francisco Henson Elementary School; at P17.87 milyon ang konstruksiyon ng 2-storey, 6-classroom building sa Nilasin 1st Elementary School.
Samantala, pinag-aaralan din ng PAGCOR na buhayin ang kanilang planong scholarship program na naudlot sa nakaraang administrasyon makaraang tanggihan ng Department of Education ang nasabing programa.
Kabilang sa mga humarap sa press conference na itinaguyod ng Philippine Information Agency, sa pangunguna ng kanilang director general na si Mr. Joe Torres, sina Catalino Alano Jr., Eric Balcos, at Carmelita Valdez na pawang may ranggong assistant vice president at Atty. Renfred C. Tan, Senior Manager ngOffshore Gaming Licensing Deparment ng PAGCOR.