POGO and Cardinal Sin

JUST when the government eyes PAGCOR’s revenue to tap for emergency measures that would address the menace of COVID-19 some senators go viral on the senate floor and on TV calling for the closure of POGOs operations. Simon-pure Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair, Dick Gordon, sermonizes that whatever revenues derived from the Philippines Offshore Gaming Operations cannot compensate for the crime that is attributed to POGO.  Not to be left in the discourse, Senator Ping Lacson warns of absurd threats on security claiming that the Chinese nationals working in POGO outlets are members of China’s Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Frank Drilon wakes up from reverie then lashes out at Pres. Rodrigo Duterte for refusing to close POGOs saying “it is a stupid mindset to allow POGOs for money”.

Then Dick has something more to bring the klieg lights to focus on him. Receiving information about intercepted dollars that entered the ports he suspected with certainty that there's a connivance between government officials and dozens of Chinese citizens, who allegedly laundered at least $188 million in cash in the Philippines starting from December 2019 to date.

The money was said to have come from Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok. The carriers claimed it was intended for foreign exchange transactions, travel and casino, investment, and business use. Gordon in his usual machinegun peroration said that despite the amount of dirty money being brought into the country no concerned government agencies reported such activities. But then again he said that the money is declared upon arrival in the Philippines. Now I do not know what the beef of Dick here. He did not tell us whether the cash was released to the bearer or was confiscated by the Customs authorities. He did not even tell us whether it was smuggled. It was in fact recorded, that is why he knew. As Chair of the blue ribbon committee, he should conduct an immediate investigation if he thinks it is smuggled and stop haranguing us with speech and more speech. But make no mistake, Dick will still have my votes.

POGO is one thing Casino is another. Both are supervised by the Philippine Gaming Corporation. Online gaming started with Roberto Ongpin’s PHILWEB which is an electronic gaming system provider. Early in the Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, there was this hush that PhilWeb was short-changing the government. This is also the first instance when a fuming Digong vented his ire on the oligarchs. POGO came into play after Philweb's online operations ceased after is license expired. The billions of revenues generated by POGO dwarfed that of PhilWeb. Ongpin sold his shares to the Aranetas and thereafter was given a green light to operate under new terms set by PAGCOR. Since then the revenues generated by PAGCOR contributed immensely to the coffers enabling the government to extend social and health services, scholarships among others.

POGO caters only to overseas patrons, principally Chinese. That being the case, the operators have to employ Chinese-speaking workers which, by latest estimates, are now over 100,000. Only 15% of the workforces of POGOs are Filipinos. We say ‘estimates’ because, in the gambling world, there are illegal POGO operators too. Filipinos are not allowed to play in POGOs. Close POGO and the patrons will go elsewhere. Their online games are almost in every corner of the world.

Since Andrea Domingo took over PAGCOR, the regulatory agency contributes more than PhP250 billion to the national treasury. This comes from the joint operations of POGO and casinos which are either run or licensed by the government.

As the gaming revenues increase moreover, the crime attributed to it conversely increased. Kidnap for ransom and prostitution spiked. Interestingly the victims are Chinese nationals. Senators blame these crimes to POGO. Add Lacson’s warning and the recent apprehension of several millions of dollars being smuggled into the country then we have a zarzuela where our legislators engage in endless political razzmatazz instead of addressing the Herculean task of how to control the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.

But Malacanang is not about to listen to Drilon’s sermon, Lacson’s scarecrows and Dick Gordon recitals to shutdown POGOs.

Not when the world economy, including ours, is in turmoil because of COVID-19. Every country needs money to prop its economy. Even his Eminence, the late Cardinal Jaime Sin was quoted as saying he will accept money even from the devil himself if this will be used to help.  I think Drilon heard that from the Cardinal his fellow Ilonggo.

Let’s face it. The Philippines never imposed any ban on Chinese visiting the country. Many of them we find in casinos and they gamble like they want to see the casinos go bankrupt. They comprise the nouveau riche in China and many of them are young men and women, adventurous, curious and furious. Most of them are tourists.  They bet big and lose big and when they are in a fix they resort to kidnap-for-ransom (to include kidnap me), extortion and the women into prostitution.  The POGO workers are here for the salary of it. PLA soldiers? Their complexion and their heels would reveal their true identity. To the chagrin of Lacson, the PNP intelligence dismissed his suspicion as baseless. Meaning it is part of Lacson’s sinophobia.

In times of emergencies, Duterte can deal with the devil. While some senators want to appear like sheep, Digong is pragmatic and had allowed the legitimate operations of POGO. As I write this piece, the Department of Health is in need of P2-billion to amply address the COVID-19 threats. Sen. Bong Go who chairs the Senate Committee on Health tells his colleagues that DoH needed the funds yesterday. What he gets in response are oratory and incendiary speeches. Drilon for one question the President's declaration of State of Public Health Emergency amidst the sudden spike of patients found positive of COVID-19. In snide remarks, he tells the media “It is a stupid mindset to allow POGOs for money”.  Duterte can take his jab but Cardinal Sin might be turning in his grave.