Deputy Speaker of the House David Suarez stated that the Marcos administration needs to strengthen law enforcement and policy reforms to curb the potential resurgence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
Suarez pointed out that despite the government's announcement of a POGO ban, the fight against illegal activities is far from over. He emphasized, "We must not repeat past mistakes. Stricter laws must be enacted, law enforcement must be strengthened, and collaboration among relevant agencies must be enhanced to ensure that the Philippines does not become a haven for criminals."
He views POGO as part of a larger criminal network, supports President Marcos's cleanup efforts in the industry, and praises his decision to shut down POGO.
Investigations by the House have shown that POGO is not only involved in gambling issues but is also closely linked to illegal drugs and extrajudicial killings. Suarez noted, "We are not just talking about gambling, but the safety of thousands of Filipino citizens."
He also expressed concern about the increase in extrajudicial killings related to POGO and called for immediate action to address this issue. He stressed, "We cannot ignore the escalating violence surrounding POGO activities. Lives have been lost, and these deaths are directly linked to the criminal groups behind them. We must act swiftly."
