By: Nino Aclan

SENATOR Joel Villanueva, author of Senate Bill No. 1281, praised and thanked the Philippine National Police for their support on the passage of the Anti-Online Gambling Act which seeks to ban all forms of online gambling in the country.

“Our advocacy for a complete ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and all online gambling activities is gaining momentum. We appreciate the PNP’s recognition that the social costs far outweigh any potential benefits,” Villanueva stated.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the net cost of POGO operations in the country is PhP 99.52 billion annually, excluding substantial social costs such as loss of life, security risks, and reputational harm, among others.

“Wala pong ambag ang mga POGO sa ating ekonomiya. Hindi rin po malaki ang nagiging kontribusyon nito sa kinikita ng ating pamahalaan,” he added.

Since 2022, the PNP and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) have conducted raids on 12 suspected POGO hubs, uncovering sites showing signs of being used for abuse and exploitation, such as sex dens and torture chambers.

Villanueva highlighted that crimes linked to POGOs include forcible abduction, homicide, illegal detention, and kidnap-for-ransom, among others.

“We are opening the floodgates of hell if we allow illegal activities brought about by online gambling in our country,” he added.

In addition to POGOs, online sabong or e-sabong operators reportedly continue to operate despite their suspension since 2022. In 2023, the PNP apprehended 1,245 suspects involved in e-sabong, with 789 operations reported as of February 2024.

Villanueva cited troubling incidents related to the operations of e-sabong, including a 19-year-old student unable to pay over Php 500,000 in gambling debts, students stealing from their parents to fund their gambling habits, and even a police officer who robbed an LBC branch in San Miguel, Bulacan.

“Nakakabahala po na maging ang mga kawani ng pamahalaan at ang ating mga kapulisan ay nagiging biktima o nalululong sa e-sabong at sa iba’t ibang klase ng online gambling,” he said.

The senator emphasized the urgent need for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to strengthen their verification protocols, given reports of government employees, including policemen, betting in e-sabong and other forms of online gambling.

“There should be no debate that the overall costs of gambling far outweigh any benefits. Therefore, we must prohibit all online gambling activities and put an end to this once and for all,” Villanueva concluded.