By Liza Soriano
MANILA – Senator Joel Villanueva said that if there would be a chance to talk to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., he would appeal to make the bill banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) a priority measure.
“If [I would] be given a chance to talk to the President, I would appeal na maging priority ito,” Villanueva said on Wednesday (31 July 2024).
“This one will definitely put a period, pagtanggal ng anumang bakas ng POGO na maaari kasing buhayin ng susunod na administrasyon ‘yan… We don’t want the next administration or the future administration to invite this POGO back,” the senator added.
After the State of Nation Address (SONA) of the President, senators lauded the pronouncement of Marcos to ban immediately ban POGOs.
Former senior associate justice Antonio Carpio previously said that Congress may enact a law prohibiting POGOs in the country to ensure that in the following administrations, it would remain prohibited.
“We need a law kung ganyan. If you want it to be permanent para it will also bind the next president, gawin na nating isang batas,” he said.
Both the Senate and House of Representatives are conducting investigation on the illegal POGOs in the country.
Two main hubs that are being questioned are those in Porac, Pampanga and Bamban, Tarlac.
(el Amigo/mnm)
