Amid concerns over the impact of local online gambling on Filipinos, Malacañang said the government continues to study the operations of Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs).
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro issued the statement Thursday as PIGOs, which draw local clients, continue to do business whereas Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have been shuttered following a government ban.
“As of now, napag-aralan po. Well, anyway, continuing study po ang ginagawa natin patungkol po sa PIGO,” Castro said at a press briefing.
(As of now, it’s being studied. Well, anyway, we are conducting a continuing study of PIGO operations.)
“Pinagkumpara po ngayon kung ano iyong nangyari sa POGO at saka sa PIGO. Sa POGO, kaya po siya na-ban/total ban, dahil marami pong nangyayaring krimen because of the POGO. Pero as of now, lumalabas po sa pag-aaral ay hindi po ito nakakagawa ng krimen—hindi siya nagiging cause or hindi siya iyong nagiging dahilan, iyong PIGO, para makagawa ng krimen,” she added.
(What happened to POGO is being compared with PIGO. POGO was totally banned because of the crimes related to it. But as now, it was revealed in a study that PIGO is not related to crimes, it is not the cause or does not lead to the commission of any crime.)
On Monday, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero called for a review of PIGOs, expressing concerns over their impact on Filipinos following the POGO ban.
Escudero warned that while POGOs have been shut down, some may have simply rebranded as PIGOs to continue operations.
The Senate leader said PIGO operations have largely escaped scrutiny, despite the controversies surrounding POGOs.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July last year, ordered the ban on all POGOs by the end of 2024, citing the sector’s “grave abuse” and “disrespect” to the country’s system and laws.
On November 5, 2024, Marcos issued an executive order prohibiting Philippine Offshore Gaming, internet gaming, and other offshore gaming operations in the country.
At least two Senate bills have been filed seeking a total ban on online gambling. — VDV, GMA Integrated News