Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) — Senate Labor Committee Chairman Joel Villanueva said only two Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators have paid their taxes since POGOs were allowed to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last month, the government allowed POGOs to reopen on the condition that operators must first pay all taxes for April 2020 and earlier.
Villanueva, however, said many POGOs operate even if they have yet to pay their taxes.
“Itong mga POGO na ito they are not above the law. Right now, talagang binabastos tayo ng POGO. Binabastos tayo. Parang balewala lang satin. Okay lang kasi magbabayad naman sila ng buwis,” a frustrated Villanueva says.
“Until now, I was told, wala pa ring nagbabayad na bago. Wala pa ring nagbabayad. Zero pa rin. So it means, dapat hindi sila magresume. I don’t know if they will agree with me. Because it appears that they are resuming their operations,” Villanueva says.
Villanueva said a proof that POGOs continue to operate are the numerous arrests made against illegal POGO workers during the quarantine period.
He cited reports that on April 24, about 53 POGO workers were arrested in Paranaque.
On May 6, 76 were arrested in Makati, 265 in Las Pinas a week later, and another 92 in Bacoor around the end of May.
In June, 151 POGO workers were arrested in Quezon City.
“These are foreigners operating illegally in our country. In fact, if you recall, last year alone, hinuli ng DOLE, when they were doing their job checking these legal POGO operations… they were able to have this data, 6,678 illegal workers found working in legal POGOs,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva said he believes POGOs are given VIP treatment in the country.
“Ang sa akin lang, klaro na may VIP treatment. Klaro na mayroon silang backers because these guys will not do these— mga foreigners sila dito sa ating bansa— kung wala sila pinagkakatiwalaan o pinagiisapn na o kaya tayong protektahan nito,”
If the government can’t control POGOs, Villanueva says they might as well shut down their operations.
“Hangga’t hindi tayo nagmamatigas. Hanggang hindi nagmamatigas ang gobyerno na dapat sila magbayad ng buwis, hindi sila magbabayad ng buwis. Kaya para sakin, kung ganyan din lang, isarado naslang natin kung di natin kaya pigilan,” Villanueva explained.
Several Senate panels, including Villanueva’s Committee on Labor, have investigated POGO operations in the country.
The senator said the Senate will release the committee report when session resumes in July.
