MANILA, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s green light order on offshore gaming operators in the country was ill-advised, said Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile.
In an ambush interview Wednesday, the former Senate President agreed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to ban all POGOs in the country. These were banned in other neighboring countries. Enrile questioned why it was allowed here.
“It was ill advised. They did not study it well. My god, POGO was banned in Cambodia, banned by many countries in Central Asia and we adopted it here. Why is it that until now we have POGOs in Bamban, Porac, without PAGCOR being able to control them,” he said.
“Is that a wise decision? Wise activity?” he said.
Had he been the President, Enrile said, he will likewise do the same.
“If I were the President… I will kick out POGOs in this country. POGO is a money laundering operation,” Enrile said.
Both chambers of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives are conducting hearings on the legalities and crimes committed within POGO hubs.
Aside from targets of justice, government personalities are being directly linked to POGO operations. Suspended Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who is being investigated for her links to the raided POGO hubs in her town, has been ordered arrested by the Senate for her refusal to appear before the hearing still remains at large.
Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque is being questioned after the arrest of two foreign nationals suspected to be working for Lucky South 99, the raided POGO hub in Bamban.
