Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday instructed the House leadership and top Secretariat officials to file and ensure the swift approval of a proposed measure in response to the directive of President Marcos to impose a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in the Philippines.
Romualdez, at the same time, gave orders to continue with ongoing congressional investigation on the operation of criminal syndicates responsible for illegal activities linked to POGO to unmask their modus operandi and their masterminds.
“Immediately after the SONA of President Marcos, Jr., I met with House leaders and top Secretariat officials last night in my office. I asked them to come up with a proposed legislative measure that will put to a halt all POGO operations in the country effective December 2024 as ordered by the President,” Romualdez said.
“This, however, will not stop ongoing House investigation on the criminal and other illegal activities linked to POGO. Hopefully, the House can learn from the hearing—on their modus operandi and the brains behind these activities—as part of inputs for the proposed measure that we will be crafting,” the House leader stressed.
Romualdez was informed by Secretariat officials that there are several House bills and resolutions now pending before the House Committee on Games and Amusement concerning the operations of POGO.
These include House Bill (HB) 5082 filed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, Jr.; HB 10525 filed by Makabayan bloc Reps. France Castro, Arlene Brosas, and Raoul Danniel Manuel.
Also pending at committee level are House Resolution (HR) 503 filed by Rizal Rep. Juan Fidel Nograles, HR 1197 filed by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, HR 1524 also filed by the Makabayan bloc, and the privilege speech of OFW Partylist Rep. Marissa Magsino.
Romualdez said these measures should be harmonized and should result in the filing of a substitute bill, which is acceptable to all stakeholders who participated in the committee hearings.
“I am requesting all the Committee chairs concerned to give this a priority. For the House Committee on Public Order and Security to submit their comprehensive report and recommendations to the Committee on Games and Amusement as soon as possible. And for the House Committee on Games and Amusement to come up with a committee report for immediate plenary deliberation,” the Speaker said.
“I want all bases in the total POGO ban covered in the proposed measure. We have to ensure that the POGO operators will not just resort to guerrilla operators or go undercover. The law must be crafted with ironclad provisions to prevent a resurrection of these criminal and illegal activities.”
The House leader explained that a law needs to be enacted to ensure that all anti-POGO measures are institutionalized not only during the administration of President Marcos, Jr., but also beyond his term.
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