SEN. Grace Poe, during the plenary deliberations on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Tuesday, November 14, 2023, asked Sen. Juan Edgardo Sonny Angara, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, what is the position of the agency with regard to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs).

Poe noted that POGO operations had worsened in the past.

Even if some of them are licensed and legal, “there are still others that are operating under very shady, at the very least, conditions,” the senator said.

“I would just like to ask the position of the DOJ because you’re actually in the center of the storm, having to process their cases and then maybe deport others under immigration. What is your position on having POGOs, weighing the social impact and the so-called economic benefits? Are you for the total banning of POGOs at this point?” Poe asked.

Angara, sponsor of the budget, said the DOJ just enforces whatever the national government’s policies.

Majority Leader Senator Joel Villanueva reiterated his call to stop operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the country.

Villanueva said that while the number of POGO in the Philippines is declining, POGO-related crimes continue to rise.

He cited human trafficking incidences in the cities of Pasay and Paranaque.

He said an inter-agency task force was formed by the Senate Committee on Labor in 2019 to monitor the number of foreign nationals engaged in POGO.

“We hope that this inter-agency task force is continuing to do its work and we give full support…if there is a need to increase its budget. We are hoping the DOJ and its attached agencies would continue to be active in its work in holding violators accountable,” Villanueva said.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo vowed to support all the programs of the Department of Justice (DOJ) but he urged its attached agencies to solve several crimes in the country.

Tulfo enumerated various crimes that need to be addressed such as drugs cases, assassinations of public officials, human trafficking of Filipinos going abroad, human trafficking of foreigners who brought in POGO facilities, online scams, missing persons, and detention facility incidents.

“The list goes on and each of these must be addressed and must not be swept under the rug. The sense of safety and security of the people depend on their confidence on our justice system,” Tulfo said in his manifestation.

“It takes all the agencies of the DOJ to fully operate an effective justice system…I am behind the Department of Justice as an institution of the people and I will continue to support their programs in delivering justice to all,” he added.