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Hontiveros lands on Ph trends list of X after FMJ bans POGOs
By Nidz Godino
“At ngayon po, naririnig po namin ang malakas na sigaw ng taong bayan laban sa mga POGO,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in his SONA, name of opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros trended on X (formerly Twitter) platform after FMJ announced ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in his third State of the Nation Address.
Chief executive on July 22 declared cessation of POGOs in the country after it proliferated during previous administration.
“Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into elicit areas furthest from gaming, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture even murder. ..grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop,” he stressed.
“Kailangan nang itigil ang panggulo nito sa ating lipunan at paglalapastangan sa ating bansa!” Marcos said.
His remarks caused him to receive widespread cheers from attendees, with some giving him standing ovation.
In his SONA, the president also ordered Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to “wind down and cease operations of POGOs by end of the year.”
Action caused some online Filipinos to mention Hontiveros, who has been ceaselessly cracking down on POGOs since they came into the country.
“For the first time, Senator Risa Hontiveros stood up and applauded during Marcos Jr. SONA speech. POGOs are banned. Sen Risa’s work with brave whistleblowers and civil society actors, indeed, deserves applause,” sociologist Athena Presto said.
“I just want to thank this woman who always stands up and looks deeper into what’s more to investigate about POGOS. ..she deserves my praise for what she has done to awaken minds of many people. ..salamat, SEN. RISA HONTIVEROS, AND YOU ARE A TRUE LEADER,” another user wrote.
“Thank you, Sen Risa! Right from the start, you knew where to stand!” a different Pinoy commented.
“Thank you to Sen. Risa who got ball rolling on this issue. ..time to make sure these POGOs are totally eradicated,” wrote another user.
Rights lawyer Chel Diokno also credited lawmaker for her efforts in probing POGOs.
“Maraming salamat, Sen. Risa! Kung ‘di niyo inungkat ang mga POGO, malamang ‘di pa siya na-ban…dapat may kasabay ang ban pagpapanagot sa mga salarin ,mga government officials na kakochaba at kumita sa kanila,” he wrote.
Keyword “Sen. Risa” also landed in the top ten Philippine trends list on the X platform on Monday evening.
Hontiveros called ban “success for the country.”
“‘Bye, POGO!” she wrote on social media with waving hand emoji.
Her post has earned 46,000 likes, 14,000 reposts and 790 comments in replies thread so far.
“Bilang tagapangulo ng Senate Committee on Women na nanguna sa imbestigasyon tungkol sa mga krimeng nakakabit sa POGO, hindi ko matatawaran ang saya at ginhawa ng pagpapabawal ng POGO sa bansa,” Hontiveros said.
“POGOs have brought innumerable and unspeakable social ills into the country… I commend the President for his resolute pronouncement,” she stressed.
Lawmaker said their Senate hearings “will continue to demand accountability.”
Sen. Win Gatchalian, who has also been calling for ban on POGOs, said their Senate hearings about illegal POGOs will continue as they have not yet found “masterminds” of activities.
He and Hontiveros have been jointly investigating illegal POGOs in upper chamber, with most recent one involving suspended Bamban Mayor Guo Hua Ping or Alice Guo accused of enabling them in her town.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros will “also continue to ensure” Senate “strengthen policies that would prevent industries like POGOs from ever emerging again.”
“Maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga victim-survivors, whistleblowers, at government agencies na nakipagtulungan sa aming imbestigasyon sa Senado para mabunyag ang kababalaghang nakapalibot sa POGO…we owe you this victory,” she added.
As early as 2020, Hontiveros filed Senate resolution urging prohibition of POGOs in the country, saying that they were “non-essential business.”
Earlier that year, lawmaker exposed sex and human trafficking dens that were allegedly linked to gaming and amusement industry.
In 2021, opposition senator once again renewed
her call to ban POGOs, stressing their involvement in activities like “illegal recruitment to kidnapping.”
Since then, Hontiveros has been continuously cracking down on POGOs in Senate investigations, with most recent involving Guo.
Government started regulating POGOs in 2016 under Duterte administration.
They were initially touted as source of revenue but have since been associated with illegal activities such as scams, torture and human trafficking.
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