A House leader appealed to the voters not to support those candidates associated with the banned Philippine offshore gambling operators (POGOs).

According to House Assistant Majority Leader and Manila Rep. Ernix Dionisio Jr. there are aspirants for public office who are apparently enjoying support from POGOs in exchange of protection for their business and personal interest.

“Ang problema natin naman ngayon na hinaharap natin, same individuals involved in illegal gambling in POGOs. They’re trying to get in government. If you would see, ang daming tumatakbo.

Gusto makapasok sa pamahalaan para proteksyunan na naman ‘yung mga illegal na gawain nila,” Dionisio said in a media briefing.

“That’s why I really salute and commend President Bongbong R. Marcos Jr. na ipina-banned niya ‘yung POGO, ibinawal niya ‘yung mga gambling na ‘yan. Pero we should really help the President na tayong mga botante maging matalino, huwag nating hayaan mapasok ‘yung pamahalaan ng mga illegalista ng mga taong ito,” he added.

Dionisio expressed the belief that the President’s decision to ban POGOs is one of the reasons for the delisting of the country in the money laundering watchlist of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

“Tingin ko isang reason doon ‘yung total ban ni President sa POGO…alam naman natin ‘yung POGO, ‘yan ‘yung web of lies and criminality eh. And isa diyan ‘yung money laundering. Ang malungkot na fact dito, ‘yung mga involved sa POGO, yung mga sugarol, yung mga naghahasik ng bisyo na nakakasira ng buhay ng Pilipino para yumaman lang sila, dahil binawal na ni President Bongbong Marcos, umokay tayo sa money laundering,” he said.

Another leader, House Minority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur, said the Quad Comm inquiry into POGOs and criminal activities associated with them is another factor that hastened the country’s removal from the FATF watchlist.

“I think from our end, ‘yung Quad Comm, ito po ‘yung nagpapakita na…nasa tama na direksyon. Dahil we were able to unearth ‘yung mga cobwebs nung lahat nung mga sophisticated na networkings nung mga illegal operators ng POGO dito. At least nakadagdag ‘yun,” he said.

“Tama pa ‘yung…immediate na pagban (sa POGOs), dahil ang Presidente alam talaga niya kung ano ang magiging effect nito at paano dapat mag-move forward ang Pilipinas.

In introducing members of his Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial ticket to his province-mates in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte last February 11, President Marcos appealed to voters not to support candidates linked to the previous administration, though he did not mention former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte by name.

“Wala sa kanila ang may bahid ng dugo dahil sa tokhang. Wala sa kanila ang kasabwat sa pagbulsa ng sako-sakong pera, pinagsamantalahan ang krisis ng pandemya, pinabayaan ang ating mga kababayan na magkasakit at mamatay,” Marcos said.

“Babalik ba tayo sa nakaraan na ibinubugaw ang ating bayan bilang isang sugalan ng mga dayuhan? Nais ba nating bumalik sa landas na umaapaw sa dugo ng mga inosenteng mga bata na inagaw ang kanilang – na inagaw sa kanilang mga ina, kinuha sa kanilang mga tahanan, at inagaw ang kanilang kinabukasan?” President Marcos asked his listeners.

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Jester P. Manalastas