FACT CHECK: Bong Go falsely claims he has been ‘against’ POGOs

Urging dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo to answer truthfully the questions thrown at her during a Senate inquiry, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said he has long been against the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). This is false.

STATEMENT

In the Sept. 9 hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, Guo was again cited in contempt for being evasive in responding to questions on her identity and her alleged links to criminal activities related to the POGOs.

During the last six minutes of the hearing, Go remarked about Guo’s evasiveness, saying it has given rise to conspiracy theories and gossip. These include allegations linking former president Rodrigo Duterte to her unlawful activities, as well as on the adverse impact of the POGOs on public order and safety.

The senator said:

“At ako po’y mismo, noon pa, against po ako sa POGO. ‘Pag apektado na po ang peace and order, for the record, ayaw ko [p]a rin ng POGO, lalong-lalo na po ‘pag naghahasik na po sila ng lagim […] ‘Pag compromised na po ang peace and order, ayaw ko mismo, ayaw ko po. I’m against POGO. Matagal ko na pong sinasabi ‘yan.”

(I myself, even before, I am against POGO. When peace and order is affected, for the record, I am still against POGO, especially when it is sowing terror… when peace and order is compromised, I don’t like it. I am against POGO. I’ve been saying that long ago.)

Source: Senate of the Philippines, Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality (September 9, 2024), Sept. 9, 2024, watch from 5:21:10 to 5:21:42

FACT

Go was one of the 17 senators who voted on June 2, 2021 for Senate Bill No. 2232, recognizing the legitimacy of offshore online gaming, and taxing the POGOs. This came two days after then-president Duterte certified the bill as urgent.

On Sept. 22, 2021, Duterte signed the bill into law, also known as Republic Act No. 11950 or the Act Taxing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations.

Only three senators in the 18th Congress voted against the bill: Sens. Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan and Franklin Drilon.

In 2023, Go did not sign the joint report of the Senate Committees on Ways and Means and Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which concluded that the social costs of POGOs outweigh its economic benefits and recommended the gradual phaseout of POGOs.

“The surge in criminal activities in 2022 such as kidnapping, illegal detention, prostitution and money laundering directly pinpointing to POGOs found their way back to Congress as part of its oversight function, which is now pressed to balance the pendulum between the economic gains vis-a-vis the social costs,” a part of the report read.

For this reason, the report said criminal activities related to POGO operations and activities make the Philippines a “less attractive” hub for investment and tourism. That kind of “reputational risk and integrity,” it noted, stands to hurt the country’s economy in the long run.