Robredo on the propose reopening of POGO operations, "Uunahin pa ba sila, parang insulto ito sa mga Pilipino!'

Photo courtesy of  Abante and Brigada

Vice President Leni Robredo questioned the resumption of operations of Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) while the country is under extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Mtero Manila due to pandemic COVID-19.

For Robredo this would send an ugly message to our fellow countrymen, while most of the Filipino businesses are shuttered to contain the pandemic virus, the POGOs are being prioritized on their resumption of operation.


In her weekly radio show, the vice president is opposing the call to continue POGO operations, controlled mostly by Chinese firms, that can generate additional cash resources for the government.

“Kapag inuna pa kasi natin [itong] mga POGO, ang dami-dami na ngang problemang dinulot nito sa society natin, tapos ngayon na nagkakagulo lahat—‘di ba hinihingi natin sa mga kababayan natin na habaan iyong pasensya, kailangang dagdagan iyong sakripisyo, para ma-flatten iyong curve—tapos ang bibigyan ng preference sa pagbalik sa trabaho, sila,” the vice president said

“Parang insulto ito. Insulto. Mahirap maintindihan ng mga kababayan natin kung bakit sila pa iyong may preference,” added Robredo.

Robredo mentioned that the revenue generated from offshore gaming companies only comprise 0.04% of the domestic economy, which would not be a substantial contribution to the government’s financial resources.


“Uunahin pa ba natin sila, na ang dami nating mga kababayan na nangangailangan makabalik na sa trabaho ngayon? Kung mayroon tayong uunahin, mga kapwa Pilipino na natin,” said Robredo.

She pointed out that Senate hearings conducted on the alleged illegal activities related to the Pogo industry have shown that Pogos have very little contribution to the country’s domestic economy.

"Alam natin na maraming katiwalian, malaki iyong social costs sa 'tin dahil sa proliferation ng POGO," she said.

“[It is] unfortunate kasi bago pa nangyari itong sitwasyon natin ngayon, nagkaroon ng several discussions tungkol dito. Malaki yang social cost sa atin dahil dito sa pagdami ng Pogo,” Robredo added.


Robredo insisted that the government should rather first ensure the welfare and preventive measures to protect Filipino workers affected by the lockdown are being implemented properly.

“Siguraduhin natin na sapat iyong kikitain nila at makapagtrabaho kaagad. Kung hindi naman makapagtrabaho, mabigyan ng tamang suporta para hindi magutom,” she added.

Recently, Rep. Eric Go Yap of ACT-CIS party-list, who chairs the House appropriations committee, has asked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to allow resumption of the operations of Pogos, so that revenues from the industry would support the national government fight the health crisis.

"Parang panget na mensahe na sila pa ang uunahing payagang bumukas kaysa sa mga negosyo na nag-e-employ ng mga Pilipino... Kung binabawalan natin iyong mga para sa Pilipino bakit bibigyan sila ng parang privilege na magbukas?" Robredo mentioned.


Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said last week, the government will weigh the risks and benefits from reopening POGOs that give the state cash resources.