In President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 3rd SONA on Monday, July 22, 2024, one notable instance of political grandstanding, bordering on deception, was his declaration that all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) were banned as of that day. He emphatically stated, “Effective today, all POGOs are banned.”
It was amusing and perplexing that such a statement received applause and a standing ovation, with those in the halls of Congress shouting his name, BBM! BBM! when, in fact, POGO was just renamed or re-branded as Internet Gaming Licenses (IGL).
In an article published in Inside Asian Gaming last October 11, 2023, with the title, “PAGCOR: POGOs to be renamed Internet Gaming Licensees, “55 to 65” licenses to be approved,” the Chairman and CEO of Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR has revealed that licensed offshore gaming operators will no longer be known as POGOs and will instead be referred to as IGLs.
No Legislative Backing
Marcos Jr.’s instruction to PAGCOR to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year without instructing Congress to rescind RA 11590, – “An Act Taxing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, Amending for the Purpose Sections 22, 25, 27, 28, 106, 108, and Adding a New Section 125-A of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as Amended, and for Other Purposes,” was pretty much baffling. RA 11590 imposes specific taxes on POGOs and their employees, aiming to regulate and generate revenue from their operations within the country.
In this regard, RA 11590 remains in force. Without rescinding this law, there is an apparent legal disconnect and discrepancy between the regulatory framework that authorizes and taxes POGO operations and the chief executive directive to cease their operations. While the President can direct regulatory agencies like PAGCOR, the continued existence of RA 11590 suggests that the legislative framework supporting POGOs is still valid and remains in force, which could create governance challenges.
On the other hand, if the intention is to cease POGO operations permanently, then there’s a need to amend or rescind/repeal RA 11590. The lack of such legislative directive from Marcos Jr. himself could be interpreted as indecisiveness, lack of coordination between the executive and legislative branches, or simply that Marcos Jr.’s announcement of banning POGO was merely rhetoric, devoid of substance, cosmetic change, and indeed an act of political grandstanding during his 3rd SONA rather than a well-considered policy shift. This affects public trust in Marcos Jr.’s administration’s ability to make coherent and consistent policy decisions.
Conclusion
In retrospect, changing POGO’s name to IGL seems like a deception. This smokescreen attempt to dissociate the rebranded entity from the negative baggage associated with POGOs devoid of a directive to rescind RA 11590 could confuse the public and stakeholders, undermining confidence in the government’s regulatory and legislative processes. This rebranding manipulates public perception and creates an illusion of a problem that was addressed without tackling its root causes.
Source: The Lobbyist
https://www.thelobbyist.biz/perspectives/article-details/prime%20insight/29-07-24
