Hontiveros pushes total POGO ban

SEN. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to consider Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) a national security threat and order their complete prohibition in the country.

«Now, I am hoping that the National Security Council, as a government body whose mandate is for national security, I hope they will bring it up to the President so that they can talk about the matter of POGO as a national security threat,» Hontiveros said during an executive session between the Senate Committee on Women, Children, and Family Relations and representatives of government agencies, including the National Security Council, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

The senator added that nefarious activities attached to the activities of POGOs in the country were tackled in the meeting, including cybercrimes, money laundering and human trafficking.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

The senator said another meeting with AMLC was needed to determine the illegal revenue streams of POGOs.

«And after that, we can conduct another hearing to focus on POGO in general and in particular on the aspect of money laundering and national security concerns,» she said.