PAGCOR urged to collect P2.2B unpaid dues from POGO firm that left PH amid pandemic

Senators Risa Hontiveros and Grace Poe have urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to collect the over P2.2 billion unpaid dues from a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) firm that fled the country amid the pandemic.

This was after PAGCOR chief Alejandro Tengco told lawmakers during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives last Monday that the P2.2 billion which was flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) cannot be collected anymore.

In a statement, Hontiveros, a staunch critic of POGO, said it is “unacceptable” that the state gaming regulatory body cannot retrieve the billions worth of receivables that the government currently needs.

“It’s even more alarming that PAGCOR seems resigned to not go after this company. Ganun-ganun na lang ba nila kakalimutan ang P2.2B? Hindi 'yan maliit na halaga, lalo na para sa ating gobyerno sa panahon ngayon,” she said.

“Responsibilidad ng PAGCOR na bantayan ang industriya ng online gambling pero mukhang pinabayaan lang nilang maghasik ng lagim ang mga POGO sa ating bansa… Wala na talagang redeeming qualities itong mga POGO. Pati perang makukolekta para sa bayan, naging bato na,” she added.

Apart from blacklisting the POGO firm involved, Hontiveros said PAGCOR officials should also be held accountable for this.

“Dapat rin ‘yung mga opisyales sa PAGCOR managot sa mistulang kibit-balikat sa halagang P2.2B. Huwag na nilang dagdagan ang mga kasalanan nila sa bayan dahil sa pagpapaunlak nila sa mga POGO na 'yan,” the lawmaker said.

Meanwhile, Poe, who chairs the Senate public services committee, said the Bureau of Internal Revenue and PAGCOR should make every effort to collect the P2.2 billion from the POGO firm that closed shop.

“If this POGO is a legitimate company, in the first place, then regulators should have a way of finding it and making it settle its liabilities,” she said.

The lawmaker believes that the P2.2 billion in unpaid taxes run contrary to the argument that the industry brings financial benefits to the Philippines.

She also renewed her stand that POGO should close down if it will not comply with the country’s laws.

“Hindi lang sila nagdadala ng gulo, nagnanakaw pa sa kaban ng bayan… If the government can't make POGOs strictly comply with the laws and regulations, then they must go,” she said.

“We hope the administration will also finally put its foot down on the existence of POGOs in the country,” she added.—AOL, GMA Integrated News