CITING the crucial role of the local government units, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos personally convened mayors from various regions in an effort to ensure their commitment to the government’s campaign against the proliferation of illegal offshore gaming hubs in their respective areas.
First to be convened were local chief executives and representatives from the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon for what was earlier referred to as an event aimed at interfacing on peace and order and public safety issues on scam farms.
Later in the day, the DILG chief presided over mayors from Metro Manila and the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region. Likewise present at the Camp Crame meeting included Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Director Louie Puracan, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro Tengco, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, and representatives from the Department of Justice, and Department of Labor and Employment.
The meeting, Abalos claimed, sought to resolve problems and issues with regard to illegal POGOs.
In both meetings, Abalos discussed the powers of LGUs and law enforcement units to inspect, suspend and revoke permits of establishments suspected of illegal POGO operations.
At the onset of 2024, law enforcement agencies intensified a nationwide crackdown on criminal syndicates behind illegal online gambling operators amid POGO raids in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga
Few days ago, no less than Finance Secretary Ralph Recto made a recommendation to the President seeking an outright ban on all POGOs.
On Friday, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman issued a strong statement which had her saying that the Philippines doesn’t need POGOs.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has also expressed support for the ban on POGOs despite a potential revenue loss amounting to P20 billion.
Interestingly, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to decide on whether or not to heed a mounting clamor for him to ban all POGO when he delivers his third State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
