The situation with President Marcos Jr.'s POGO ban is becoming increasingly problematic.
Phase One: Initial Ban Issued, All Departments React Positively Except PAGCOR
On July 22, 2024, during his third State of the Nation Address, Marcos Jr. declared: “Effective today, all POGOs are banned.” This announcement was met with fervent public approval and applause from officials present. (Marcos announces the prohibition of all online gambling companies)
However, PAGCOR was not included in this ban.
Why? You ban POGO, what am I supposed to manage? I'm out of a job! Facing unemployment.
Since then, we often see PAGCOR's head, Tengko, occasionally seeking Marcos to request exemptions for 12 Philippine offshore gaming operators or online gambling companies, asking to only shut down IGL.
But as we know, of course, that didn't work out.
The leader of Cagayan even stated: We don't have POGO operations; we target overseas iGaming businesses. Meaning: The POGOs you banned, Mr. President, we don't have. We won't listen to you.
Phase Two: Issues Regarding Employee Visas, Departure, and Reemployment
On July 27, Norman Tansingco, the head of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), issued an order demanding all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) to downgrade their foreign employees' visas, requiring these employees to leave the country within 59 days. (Immigration: Offshore gaming company foreign workers need to downgrade visas, depart within 59 days!)
The spokesperson for the Immigration Bureau stated: POGO employees' visas can no longer be extended, nor can they be converted to any other type of visa. Even if they have married and had children in the Philippines, they must leave.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor also began drafting reemployment plans for unemployed Filipino POGO workers.
Phase Three: Where to Compensate for the Lost Tax Revenue?
By August, various Philippine departments realized the impact of losing POGO, which contributed over a billion in tax revenue annually. Thus, proposals for E-sabong (cockfighting gambling) emerged.
However, after a fierce reprimand from Marcos's sister and an analysis by the budget minister, this suggestion was dropped.
Phase Four: Broadening Scope, Mayor Guo's Case Intensifies!
On August 16, four committees of the House of Representatives issued a subpoena for several individuals, including the former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's former "administrative assistant" Dela Serna, and the dismissed Mayor of Bamban, Alice Guo. Key figures from companies like Hongsheng Games, Baofu, and Lucky South 99 were also summoned.
Before this, Guo Huaping had already been suspended due to various issues related to her international identity, personal assets, and connections with POGO, leading to widespread speculation and concrete evidence.
Once the House of Representatives released this list, Guo Huaping knew she couldn't escape and chose to flee to Indonesia. However, she was captured and returned within a month.
Phase Five: Is the Mayor a Spy? Was the Former President a Cold-Blooded Killer?
After late September, the Philippine political scene heated up. First with POGO, where the set automatic visa downgrade and departure date of October 15 finally arrived, many shifted to freelancing.
On Guo Huaping's side, she was first bitten back by She Zhijiang of the Asia-Pacific Group, who claimed both were spies for China. Later, a witness testified that she and the rumored POGO godfather Lin Xunhan were involved in trafficking pornographic videos. Mayor Guo, facing 87 charges, ultimately had her Philippine passport revoked and was imprisoned.
As for the former president, the situation became even more bizarre.
Although former President Duterte was previously criticized for his drug war, the situation escalated. First, a prisoner came forward claiming Duterte ordered him to kill drug dealers, then an anti-drug police officer stated that during Duterte's term, he reported the Yang brothers, only for Duterte to cover for them, citing close ties with the Yang family and protecting drug dealers.
Duterte was also forced to attend a hearing to explain his actions in the drug war. Later, at the November hearing, Duterte affirmed his methods in the drug war with bold statements, encapsulated in one phrase: "I am guilt-free!"
Phase Six: The Final Executive Order Arrives! And This Bill!
On November 8, Philippine President Marcos issued an executive order providing clear instructions on the scope, targets, business, and comprehensive strategy of the POGO ban.
However, the order stated that the coverage does not include online gambling games conducted by casinos operated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), licensed casinos, or integrated resorts with intermediary agreements.
Beyond that, the order also had other loopholes, with some foresighted businesses already registering as BPO companies, shifting to Mindanao and the Visayas.
More importantly, almost simultaneously with Marcos's final executive order, the Philippine House of Representatives submitted House Bill (HB) No. 11043, known as the "Civil Forfeiture Bill." It aims to crack down on some foreigners associated with POGO who illegally acquire land ownership through forged identity documents (such as birth certificates, passports, driving licenses) or collusion with corrupt officials.
The law clearly states: Once illegal land transactions by foreigners in the Philippines are identified, the land ownership will revert to the state without compensation.
Moreover, the government can initiate civil forfeiture proceedings not only for illegally obtained foreign real estate but also for other POGO-related assets.
In just over four months, POGO was banned, freelancers emerged, and now assets are being seized.
Waking up, the bosses only feel that they can't stay in the Philippines for another day, rushing to buy tickets to Thailand overnight!
Overall, while this period seems to be about POGO issues, it actually targets the groups behind POGO and former President Duterte.
The focus on the groups behind POGO is because these POGO backers are largely controlled by some Chinese.
Have you noticed that the first to attack Guo Huaping was Zhang Qiaowei, also of Chinese descent?
In the end, they are all of Chinese heritage, so why is he targeting Guo Huaping so specifically?
This is not because the two had any personal feud, but because Zhang Qiaowei and his brothers have entered Philippine politics, seizing the opportunity to attack Guo Huaping as a means to elevate their political status, a "declaration of allegiance" to the Philippine political scene.
If you look closely at the news, besides the Philippine department ministers and Congressman Hong Tivieros, also of Filipino descent, Zhang Qiaowei's opinions are the most frequent.
Seizing the background of the POGO ban to vigorously attack Guo Huaping is not only to show team spirit and state his stance but more importantly, if he can expose the big bosses behind Guo Huaping, it would definitely elevate his position in Philippine politics.
So he also actively submitted related bills to ban POGO, all to enhance his political status. In a broader sense, it could also pave the way for his brothers and establish connections. Plus, with their family's commercial status in the Philippines, they could soon become a major family!
Whether Guo Huaping is a spy or who exactly the big bosses behind her are, they don't really care about the specifics. What they care about is to crush and weaken the influence of the Chinese behind the scenes, regardless of whether POGO continues in the future, this lucrative opportunity must not fall into Chinese hands.
As for why Duterte is being targeted so specifically?
It's simple, the current and former always clash, whether in personal relationships or politically. Although Marcos Jr. is still in office, there are still many who support Duterte domestically. To consolidate his own power and to weaken any political threat Duterte might pose to his future, Duterte must be taken down!
Ironically, Sara was the quickest, tripped by something Marcos did, leading to her resignation. Before her office's secret funds could even be investigated, she began venting on social media, lowering her own stature and image, and some media and officials suggested she should seek psychological therapy, falling into others' traps.
On Duterte's side, things aren't much better.
Although he still has influence, he no longer has power. If Marcos Jr. is truly determined to take down Duterte, it's highly likely he won't escape.
And now.
The final hearing about POGO was held on the 26th, presenting a relationship chart, saying a few words, and that was it. Only Guo Huaping's injured world was achieved.
On Duterte's side, it's not over yet, and like his daughter Sara, he's straightforward. Just a few days ago, he boldly stated that if he returns to the mayoral position, the death toll in the drug war would double!
Yes, the previously aging Duterte, who spoke of enjoying his later years, was stimulated by Marcos to start running for mayor again.
In summary, the Philippine political scene is increasingly lively! It's uncertain how it will develop further.
