MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said there is no longer a need to pass a law to institutionalize President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s order banning all Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).
If at all, Escudero said a law passed by Congress must cover all forms of gambling in the country and not just Pogos.
In his third State of the Nation address on Monday, Marcos ordered the immediate ban on Pogos.
READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’
His directive does not require an executive order (EO) or a law, according to Escudero.
“No. An order suffices. Hindi EO ang nag-legalize ng Pogo, hindi AO (administrative order) ang nag-legalize ng Pogo, hindi batas ang nag-legalize ng Pogo,” he said in an interview at the Senate on Tuesday.
(An EO did not legalize Pogos, an AO did not legalize Pogos, and a law did not legalize Pogos.)
It was the license issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) that legalized the existence of Pogos, Escudero said.
Therefore, he said, the ban on Pogos only meant revocation of the license granted to these firms.
“Ngayon, kung tatanungin niyo kung bakit hindi kami magpasa ng batas laban sa Pogo? Sa galing ng mga tao sa larangang yan, mag-iimbento palagi ‘yan Pago, Pogo, Pigo (Philippine Inland Gaming Operator),” the Senate leader said.
(Now if you ask why we’re not passing a law against Pogo? With the talent of people in that field, they will always invent Pago, Pogo, Pigo.)
READ: Escudero floats total gambling ban amid Pogo issue: Bakit tayo mamimili lang?
“Sa dulo, kung nais natin ipagbawal ang pasugalan at sugal sa bansa, pwes, ipagbawal na natin lahat at susuporta ako palagi doon. Mapa-Pogo, mapa-Pigo, mapa-casino, e ‘di isabay-sabay na natin kung talagang tingin natin ay nakakasama ‘yan sa ating lipunan at sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.
(In the end, if we want to ban gambling and betting in the country, then let’s ban them all, and I will always support that. Whether it’s Pogo, Pigo, or casinos — let’s ban them altogether if we truly believe they are harmful to our society and our fellow citizens.)
When asked then if there should be a law banning all gambling in the country, Escudero answered in the affirmative.
He said there should be a national policy if the intention is to mitigate the harmful effects of gambling.
“Para sa akin, dahil kung hindi, magpapasa lang tayo palagi ng batas kada may maiimbento silang pangalan at panibagong uri at klase ng sugal,” the Senate chief said.
(For me, if we don’t, we will just keep passing laws every time they invent a new name and new type of gambling.)
NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.