Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has made it clear that if domestic online gambling operators (PIGO) are found to cause problems similar to those of offshore gaming operators (POGO), the government will not hesitate to impose a total ban.
Presidential spokesperson and Deputy Minister of the Presidential Communications Office, Claire Castro, responded on Thursday to Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero's concerns about the potential impact of PIGO on Philippine society.
She stated that the government is closely monitoring the development of PIGO and conducting in-depth studies to assess the impact of local online gambling on the nation. She noted that, so far, studies have shown that PIGO has not been directly linked to any criminal activities and has not become a major inducement for crime.
She also emphasized that unlike POGO, which mainly employs foreign workers, the majority of PIGO's employees are local Filipinos, with 90% of the practitioners being nationals. Additionally, in terms of tax contributions, PIGO is more compliant than POGO, bringing more tax revenue and marketing benefits to the Philippine economy.
Nevertheless, Castro clearly stated that once PIGO begins to exhibit illegal chaos similar to POGO, the President will not hesitate to decisively implement a total ban.
Last year, the Marcos administration issued a total ban on POGO, mainly because the industry was exposed to serious crimes such as human trafficking, prostitution, and murder.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to hold a leadership meeting soon, but the specific time has not yet been determined, confirmed by the Presidential Palace.
Deputy Minister of the Presidential Communications Office and Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro stated that both leaders have expressed their willingness to meet, but are still waiting for a suitable schedule.
Philippine Ambassador to the U.S., Jose Manuel Romualdez, previously revealed that Marcos and Trump might have a face-to-face meeting, but the details are still being negotiated.
It is noteworthy that after Trump returned to the White House, he signed a 90-day freeze order on U.S. foreign aid, reviewing all U.S. aid projects.
However, Philippine aid in security and defense was excluded from this order, showing the U.S. emphasis on the Philippine-American relationship.
