Gatchalian, Villanueva side with Chinese embassy stand on POGOs

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Senator Joel Villanueva
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Senator Joel Villanueva

MANILA – At least two senators agreed with the concerns raised by the Chinese Embassy regarding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs and their employees in the country.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the plan by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to transfer Chinese online gambling workers to self-contained communities or hubs may be well-intentioned but it is totally missing the point.

“What we want is for POGO operators and their employees to pay the correct taxes and not devour local jobs that are exclusively for our countrymen,” he said in a statement.

Isolating the gaming operators and their workers in hubs will not bring additional revenue for the government, nor will it solve the issue of foreigners encroaching on jobs meant for Filipino citizens, the senator noted.

Imbes na ayusin ang problema ay tinatago lang nila ito,” he said.

The Department of Finance earlier said the government may be losing an estimated P32 billion in uncollected income taxes a year from some 138,000 foreign workers, mostly Chinese, in POGOs.

Senator Joel Villanueva agrees with the Chinese ambassador that the Philippine government should work closely with China in combating gambling, and gambling-related crimes.

“Like the ambassador, we share his concern that online gambling will be a hotbed for money launderers and will result in more crimes,” he said.

The government, especially PAGCOR, the Department of Labor and Employment, National Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Immigration must coordinate with each other “to ensure that jobs are protected for the millions of unemployed Filipinos, and foreigners, who are illegally lured here, will be able to get protection in our country.”

Villanueva filed a resolution seeking an inquiry in aid of legislation into the influx of illegal foreign workers, especially in POGOs, and the impact of POGOs on the economy, job generation, and peace and order among other concerns. (GMA News)

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