Gatchalian steps up call to ban POGOs, lobbies Malacañang

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian has stepped up his calls for a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), saying he recently had a chance to raise the matter with Malacanang Palace, even as police and Justice department officials are still wrangling over the latest case of suspected human trafficking involving more than 2,000 POGO workers in south Metro Manila.

“ My approach is two-prong,”

Sen. Gatchalian said, adding: “I submitted our chairman’s committee report for the members to review the findings and also provided a copy to Malacañang,” which he hopes would “ban POGO.”

“ I also submitted it to Malacañang so they can see the chairman’s report—because it is very detailed—and so that they can study it,” he said.

T he senator added this was done since, “at the start and end of it, it will still be the Executive that will take steps to ban POGOs to have peace in our country.”

H is Ways and Means committee has finished a report on calls to ban POGOs after calling six hearings.

T he senator noted that “the public sentiment against POGO is seen” in a survey that showed that as high as 70 percent “convey[ed] fear and rejection of POGO.”

W ith the recent incidents involving alleged human trafficking in certain POGO hubs, “I’m sure it could still go up,” Gatchalian said, referring to the number of people favoring a ban on POGOs in the country.

G uesting at the Kapihan sa Senado, Gatchalian said he worries over recent trends because, “they [crimes associated with POGOs] have started to spread to the locals,” whereas before, police reports usually cite simple cases of “one POGO worker kidnapping another POGO worker.” But now,

T he Delegation of the European Union together with the Embassies of the EU Member States to the Philippines -- Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Romania, Slovakia (non-resident), Finland and Sweden -- issued the statement: he added in a mix of English and Filipino, the human trafficking involves not just foreigners, but also Filipinos, including “FilChinese.”

O n July 12, 2016, the Tribunal constituted by the Permanent Court of Arbitration under Annex VII to the Unclos handed down its ruling in the arbitration instituted by the Republic of the Philippines against the People’s Republic of China concerning the South China Sea in 2013.

I n Tuesday’s statement, the EU recalled that the dispute settlement mechanisms provided under Unclos contribute to the maintenance and furthering of the international order based upon the rule of law and are essential to settle disputes.

“The EU supports the swift conclusion of talks aiming at an effective Code of Conduct between Asean and China that is fully compatible with Unclos and also respects the rights of third parties,” said the statement.

H e recalled one video shown to them where one victim whose finger was about to be cut was speaking in Tagalog, “indicating that locals are being kidnapped now.”

H e said that at the end of the day, “It’s the Executive that will do that [issue a ban],” adding that “the legislative is just recommendatory and that’s why the resolution we are passing, is to encourage. But eventually the action for that must come from the Executive.”

Gatchalian added, “that’s why I went to Malacanang to submit the report.”

H e said the only argument favoring the retention of POGOs is the revenue they bring in to the government, via the state gaming agency Pagcor. However, in their Senate committee report, they noted that “the promised P30 billion or P40 billion” in revenue is no longer the case. In 2021, he added, it was only “at P3 billion plus.”

N onetheless, Gatchalian credited the current management at Pagcor with instituting serious reforms in regulating POGOs after acknowledging lapses of the past agency administration.

“In fairness to Pagcor, they saw [lapses], and they have corrected them. Inaayos nila, lumalabas iyan sa hearing [They have fixed them, we’ve seen that in hearings],” he added.

Pagcor recently fired its thirdparty auditor that was supposed to validate the incomes reported to it by POGOs, and vowed to prosecute the parties involved in the apparent fraud committed in securing a multibillion-peso contract. Butch Fernandez

By Raadee Sausa

THERE is more available rice in selected areas in National Capital Region (NCR) worth P38 per kilo, a Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders’ Movement (PRISM) official said on Tuesday.

“Our second day is good. There [is] more rice, including in Pasig, Las Piñas, Taguig, Nepa Q-Mart, Novaliches, Commonwealth, San Antonio, Marikina, Masinag Antipolo, Lipa and Tanauan Batangas, Dumaguete, Tacloban, Intercity and Goldencity Bulacan,” PRISM Convenor Rowena Sadicon told BusinessMirror

M oreover, she said that in the coming days the P38 per kilo supply will be in Nueva Ecija, Isabela and Cebu.

T he convener added that in the coming days or weeks, the rice will be available at some Kadiwa stores.

“

We haven’t gathered the specific info on sales yet, but it’s getting better,” Sadicon added.

R ecently, she said PRISM’s “Tulong sa Bayan, Bigas para sa Mamamayan” program will be implemented nationwide to help consumers have access to affordable and quality rice.

A s of now, prices of rice in the market start at P40 per kilo, PRISM noted.

T he P38 per kilo that will be sold by PRISM will be of good quality as it is classified as wellmilled rice.

The price of rice in the market is really high, so we are giving a way now, we have discussed a solution with our stakeholders: how can we cross it so that somehow there is still P38 to buy,” Sadicon said.

S he said, they would partner with the Department of Agriculture’s Kadiwa program and other selling channels like rice mills, rice traders, barangays, and the local government units chosen by the participating stakeholders.