Porac POGO mess, PAGCOR’s ‘failure’
PORAC, Pampanga — Mayor Jing Capil said representatives of the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) monitored the operations of the Lucky South 99 since it started as a BPO business back in 2019.
Capil has reiterated his claim that PAGCOR, who issued the POGO license to Lucky South 99, is the only government entity allowed to inspect the area which was recently raided by government authorities led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
Capil said the Porac LGU had issued a “Letter of No Objection” to the installation of a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) but PAGCOR allowed Lucky South 99 to involve in POGO operations.
Capil said there was “a failure of regulation” on the part of PAGCOR because its representatives had been consistently inspecting the operations of Lucky South 99 being the issuing authority of its license to operate.
“PAGCOR could had just revoke the license of Lucky South 99 if it found violations within the premises,” according to Capil.
“I will not tolerate any illegal activities in Porac town. We allowed this BPO to operate in our town but if Lucky South 99 was involved in illegal activities which PAGCOR did not report, I will support the move to ban POGO in the country,” said Capil.
“Hindi ko po isa alang alang ang kapakanan ng mga taga Porac at ng mga mamamayan ng Pampanga sa mga illegal na Gawain sa POGO,” said Capil.
“Ang POGO po at ginawang legal ng ating pamahalaan at hindi po kailangang magdusa ang mga tao sa ibaba,” said Capil.
Capil has also referred to Resolution No. 3 Series of 2024 of the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC) “supporting the actions of Clark Development Corporation and Local Government of Mabalacat City deferring the acceptance and processing of POGO applications and their BPO service providers in its concerted efforts to curb POGO-related crimes.”
The MCAC resolution stated the “MCAC member LGUs are alarmed over these incidents on POGO operations within the Metro Clark Area and the proliferation of POGO-related crimes such as human trafficking, forcible abduction, homicide, illegal detention, kidnap-for-ransom, theft, robbery-extortion, serious physical injuries, swindling, and grave coercion among others and these may even be considered as predicate crimes for anti-money laundering.”
The MCAC resolution was approved by Capil, CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes Devanadera, Mabalacat City Mayor Cris Garbo, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., and Capas Mayor Roseller Rodriguez.
Capil also said he will present documents that Whirlwind Corporation, the owner of the POGO buildings, paid millions of pesos in taxes. Lucky South 99 pays taxes directly to PAGCOR “that is why there are PAGCOR representatives inside the Porac POGO to monitor.”
Capil has cited RA No. 11590 or an “Act Taxing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations” which amends certain provisions in the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) to clarify taxes imposed on POGOs.
The amendment prescribes that with respect to POGOs’ gaming income, the entire gross gaming revenue or receipts are subject to a percentage tax of 5%, in lieu of all other direct and indirect internal revenue and local taxes.
“Malinaw po na walang taxes na kinokolekta ang mga LGUs kundi ang buwis na binabayad lamang ng building owner. Ang building owner po ay ang Whirlwind Corporation at nagbayad naman po ng taxes ang Whirldwind,” said Capil.
By: iOrbit News Team