Issuu

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

manilastandard.net

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

Kick out POGOs—senators Kidnapping, other crimes linked to online gambling

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ENATORS agreed Thursday that the country should discontinue the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) program because of its social cost, including alleged involvement in criminal activities. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, for his part, also pointed out that total POGO revenues from online gambling operations plunged to P3.9 billion in 2021, from P7.2 billion in 2020.. “In fact, China has discontinued POGO. Even Cambodia. It also has a reputational risk. People will ask why are they going to the Philippines [when] it is discontinued in China? ...Maybe because we are loose; we are not strict on our rules,” he said. Senator Ronald dela Rosa said the government can kick out the POGOs if public safety is at risk due to their involvement in crimes like kidnapping, illegal detention and sex slavery. Police records show POGOs, composed of Chinese workers, have been involved in these crimes. "I don't care if we have nothing to eat, I

don't care if they (POGOs) shut down operations," Dela Rosa, a former police chief, said. Diokno, testifying before the Senate Finance committee on the P5.8 trillion proposed national budget for 2023, said revenue collected from POGOs has dropped due to a “change in the environment,” adding that the pandemic was a huge factor. For 2022, he said, the projected income from POGOs is P32 billion—but only P3 billion has been collected to date. Senator Grace Poe also recommended to the Senate panel to study the possibility of asking POGOs to leave. The Senate probe stemmed from separate resolutions by Senators Imee Marcos, JV Ejercito, and Poe, who all sounded the alarm over the recent surge in reported abductions nationwide. Next page

NCRPO chief Police Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo and PNP officerin-charge Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo

Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCCII) secretary-general Bengsum Ko

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 212• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 FRIDAY, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ES post soon PBBM off to US on Sunday, set to speak at UNGA to be vacant? Palace mum he will speak on the country's efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, the rule of law, and food security, at the 77th United Nations GenPRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will eral Assembly (UNGA) on Sept. 20. leave for the United States on Sept. 18 for "We are going to expect that his speech a week-long working visit, during which will be relating to how the Philippines

By Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez and Rey E. Requejo

By Vince Lopez SPECULATION is rife that Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez might be transferred to another post, but the Palace has yet to make a comment. “We have no reaction,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said when asked to comment on online reports and social media posts saying Rodriguez will likely be replaced and will instead serve as the President's chief of staff. Sources said such a move will spare Rodriguez from having to face the Next page

Phone sellers must aid users to block texts

will be recovering from this pandemic, and where he intends to take this and how he will do so in cooperation with other states," Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said. “The President is expected to discuss his administration’s priorities in his

speech at the UN’s high-level general debate, which he is expected to deliver on Sept. 20,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Kira Azucena said. This year’s theme of the general debate, she said, is “a watershed moment, Next page

BTA urged to pass key laws, push BARMM polls in 2025 By Nash Maulana, Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday called on the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to pass key legislation and to pave the way for elections in 2025.

During the ceremonial opening of the session of the BTA parliament in Cotabato City, the President said the passage of measures would benefit people in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). “To deliver our commitments to the people of BARMM, I urge you to

pass all the crucial legislation on fiscal policy--particularly taxation and to facilitate the conduct of the elections in the BARMM in 2025,” the President said. “I also encourage the BTA to pass measures that will secure the welfare of the Moro people, particularly in agri fishery, health care, transportation, com-

munication, digital infrastructure, and e-governance,” he added. The President lauded the BTA for its gains as three of the seven priority codes, such as the administrative, civil service, and education, have already been approved. The first parliament, which served from Next page

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Thursday issued an order directing mobile phone manufacturers, distributors, and dealers to assist mobile phone users in activating the text-blocking feature on mobile devices amid rising SMS (short messaging service) scams. Under NTC Memorandum No. 00609-2022, the agency directed the parties to provide directions to mobile phone users on how to block texts from mobile numbers not in their

UNITED BANGSAMORO. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks with Murad Ebrahim (third from right), interim chief minister of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), during the ceremonial opening of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority in Cotabato City on Sept. 15, 2022. Also in photo are (from left) Special Adviser to the President Anton Lagdameo, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. AFP

DILG retouches war on drugs DepEd, DOH with ‘whole nation’ approach crafting mask

ROGER FEDERER

Tennis legend Federer to retire after Laver Cup SWISS tennis legend Roger Federer is to retire after next week's Laver Cup after admitting on Thursday his battles with a knee problem had forced him to call time on his historic career. "The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event," he

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Department of Interior and Local Government is set to launch a new campaign using what it described as a “wholeof-nation” approach against the trafficking of illegal substances to bring to justice the people behind the drug menace. “We must harness the support of the grassroots, the schools, the community, the church, everyone. And that’s what we intend to do in our fight against illegal drugs,” said Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. Abalos did not divulge the details of the campaign, but underscored that to control the spread of illegal drugs, a collective government effort must be

rules in schools

applied to identify and cut the roots of the problem such as poverty, criminality, and other social ills. The announcement came a few days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration will “refocus” the war on drugs to include the treatment and rehabilitation of drug users. “The war on drugs will continue but we have to do it in a different way,” the President said in a television interview on Tuesday. “Even as we speak, there is a working group putting together (the revisions) …We are trying to formulate how, what is the latest and what’s the best way for the rehabilitation.”

THE Department of Education (DepEd) is coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) to craft new guidelines on wearing face masks in schools. DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said on Thursday the agency would update its health protocols in schools after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the use of face masks optional in outdoor areas. "We will consult the DOH because

By Willie Casas and Vince Lopez