đź“·Speaker Martin Romualdez | Philippine News Agency
DESPITE imminent threats to national security, Speaker Martin Romualdez who wields the power to steer the majority, doesn’t seem open to the idea of banning offshore gaming operations in the country.
In an ambush interview on the sidelines of the celebration of the country’s 126th Independence Day at the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, Romualdez announced his position over House Bill 10525 (Anti-Pogo Act of 2024) filed by militant partylist Rep. France Castro.
According to Romualdez, total ban is not the only solution to the problems caused by the gaming industry’s operation even as he maintained that POGOs may be allowed to continue operating in the country provided that its stakeholders follow the Philippine laws.
“Basta dapat lahat ng mga stakeholders diyan sumunod sa batas at sa mga lumabag sa batas, lagot po kayo sa ating mga law enforcers. Kaya yung kung mga bawal na ginagawa ninyo talagang huhulihin po kayo kaya dapat po sumunod na lang kayo sa batas para hindi kayo magkaka problema,” Romualdez said.
“Alam mo naman may proseso, idadaan din yan sa proseso sa mga hearings papakinggan natin lahat ng mga stakeholders kung ano ang mga posisyon nila dito at don natin ititimbang kung ano dapat ang pinakamagandang gawin natin,” the top House leader added.
He however clarified that Castro’s HB 10525 would serve as a venue to decipher each and every issue besetting the offshore gaming operations.
“We’re open to hearing all issues concerning the POGO,” Romualdez further averred.
“We have a process for that, we have to go through that process where hearings will be held and we have to hear the concerns of all our stakeholders, what is their position. And from there, we will be weighing our options on what to do best with them,” reads a separate statement coming from the Office of the House Speaker.
The proliferation of POGO hubs started during the previous administration under former President Rodrigo Duterte who has admitted Chinese blood. It was also during his term when the arrival of Chinese nationals hit a record high.
Prior to the raid conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on a 10-hectare POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, authorities swooped down on an eight-hectare complex in Bamban town in Tarlac. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
