Villanueva slams ‘VIP treatment’ of POGOs, says none has come forward to settle taxes

Senator Joel Villanueva on Tuesday denounced the "VIP treatment" allegedly being given by the government to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as he claimed that none has come forward yet to settle its tax obligations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Until now, I was told wala pa ring nagbabayad na bago. Wala pa rin, zero pa rin. So, it means dapat hindi sila mag-resume. I don't know if they would agree with me because it appears that they are resuming their operation," Villanueva said in a virtual interview with reporters.

The chair of the Senate committee on labor pointed out the various POGO-related arrests continued in previous weeks even in the middle of a health crisis.

"April 24, 53 arrested Paranaque City... May 6, 76 arrested in Makati City. May 14, a week later, 265 arrested in Las Piñas. May 29, Bacoor, Cavite, 92 arrested. June 2, Quezon City, 151 arrested. Eh puro po POGO ito, puro nasa loob ng GCQ," Villanueva said.

"Every week na lang, and yet no one is talking to us. No one is saying, 'O, talagang dapat itigil muna 'yan, dapat patawan natin ng buwis 'yan," he added.

The POGO industry was allowed to partially resume business just last month, provided that they settle their unpaid taxes and follow strict COVID-19 protocols.

Yet, as of mid-June, the Bureau of Internal Revenue said "legal issues" are hampering the collection of franchise taxes from POGOs.

"Talagang may VIP treatment. Hangga't di tayo nagmamatigas, hangga't hindi nagmamatigas ang gobyerno na dapat silang magbayad ng buwis, I don't think magbabayad sila ng buwis," Villanueva said.

"Para sa akin kung ganiyan din lang, isarado na lang natin kung hindi natin kayang pigilan," he added.

Villanueva, together with other senators, previously urged the government to collect the P50 billion unpaid taxes of POGOs before pushing through with the plan to tax online sellers. —LDF, GMA News