MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has refused to order the shutting down of operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) as the government needs the funds from it.
In a press conference at the Malacañang Palace on Monday evening, President Duterte said the government needs the around P2 billion in monthly taxes being paid by POGOs.
“We are not justifying it. We are just saying that it is allowed because we need the funds… Ang tanging ano ko lang diyan is the money, sayang eh, makatulong sa bayan,” Duterte said.
The president added that he was not convinced about the allegations of money laundering as he has obtained a list of bank deposits that showed no proof of money laundering activities related to POGOs.
“If sabihin mo ‘yung money laundering, hindi nakita ng regulators…Binigyan kami ng copy. Hindi totoo,” Duterte said. “Money laundering? Ano ba ‘yung ibayad mo? You are engaged in the business, you deposit money, you withdraw money. Tumatakbo ‘yan. May nanalo, may natalo. Kailangan nila ng pera ng magbayad.”
“If they want payment to emanate from the Philippines, there’s nothing that we can do,” he added.
Duterte also said that the government cannot prevent Chinese from entering the country, including those working in offshore gaming companies.
“We cannot bar Chinese nationals from entering the country because they allow us to enter China also and even work in Hong Kong,” he said. “There is a compelling reason kung walang iba, and there is no legal impediment. If the Congress can pass a law about POGOs, fine go ahead.”
Chinese nationals coming over in the country and working for POGOs have been involved in a wide range of criminal activities including corruption, money laundering, bribery, tax evasion, kidnapping and sex trafficking.
Senators have recently called for the prohibition of the offshore gaming companies in the country, saying that the revenues brought in by POGOs do not equal the social ills they cause.
Vice president Leni Robredo also urged the administration to make a decisive action on POGOs as the country’s income from these companies does not make up for the social costs of the crimes allegedly committed by Chinese nationals.
In response to the protests, the Chinese Embassy dismissed the crimes allegedly committed by Chinese nationals in the country as “isolated incidents” and condemned what they called “irresponsible remarks based on fake news.”/PN
