President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asserts that none of his Senate candidates are tied to POGOs, despite his previous call for a nationwide ban on the industry.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. asserted that none of the Senate candidates he is backing under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alyansa) have links to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), even as he previously called for a nationwide ban on the industry.
Speaking at the Alyansa’s proclamation rally at the Centennial Arena on Tuesday, Marcos Jr. took a swipe at a rival Senate candidate, referring to them as a “false prophet” facing cases related to abuse of women and children. He emphasized that none of his slate’s members are tainted by such controversies.
“Wala po sa kanila ang tila sakrista na isang bulaang propeta na nasasadlak dahil sa pagyurak sa ating kabataan at ating kababaihan,” Marcos Jr. said. (None of them behave as sacristans, as false prophets who are facing cases for abusing our children and women.)
Amid his assurances that Alyansa candidates have clean records, the President made it clear that they also have no ties to POGO operations, which have been a controversial issue in the country. This statement comes after Marcos Jr. himself called for a ban on POGOs last year, citing concerns over crime, money laundering, and national security risks linked to the industry.
The President also took aim at other political groups, expressing pity for parties he believes are struggling to field strong Senate candidates, while distancing his slate from past government controversies, stating that none of them were involved in alleged drug war of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, the alleged misuse of pandemic funds, or pro-China stances amid maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
While an executive order (EO) banning POGOs is in effect, the legislative department is lobbying for a law that will put an outright ban the industry.
Read related article: Marcos Orders “Smaller Scale, Multiple” Anti-POGO Operations
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