Marcos: Ban PIGOs if similar to POGOs

President Marcos won't hesitate to ban Philippine inland gaming operators (PIGOs) if proven to be yielding negative effects similar to those linked to their offshore counterparts, Malacañang said yesterday.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

Months after Marcos ordered a crackdown on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) because of their ties to illegal activities, Senate President Francis Escudero called for a cost-benefit analysis of PIGO licenses issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to determine if they are worth continuing.

In a recent statement, Escudero pointed out that PIGOs offer the same online games to clients who are predominantly Filipinos. Since the same issues raised against the POGOs could be leveled against PIGOs, there should be an equal if not greater concern about their effects, the senator added.