Dumagdag si Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers sa mga nananawagan para ikonsidera ang POGO bilang national security threat at tuluyan nang ipagbawal ang operasyon nito sa bansa.
Ani Barbers, 2017 pa niya ibinunyag ang iligal na aktibidad ng mga POGO at hanggang ngayon ay walang nagbago bagkus ay lumala pa.
Muli ring iginiit ng mambabatas na welcome sa Pilipinas ang mga lehitimong negosyo at mamumuhunan ngunit hindi ang mga ‘basura’ na sangkol sa iligal na sugal, droga at kriminalidad.
“These POGOs that are banned in mainland China only brought more crimes and shame to our country. Whatever benefit we got from them is nothing compared to what they have put us in. The social costs keep mounting and no amount of taxes or perceived jobs can outweigh them”, sabi ni Barbers.
Pinaka-ikinibababahala ng mambabatas ay kung ang POGO money ay nagagamit na rin bilang drug money at pangsuhol sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan.
“POGO politics has complemented narco politics now. If we continue to be blind and refuse to read the writings on the wall, we are doomed”, diin ni Barbers.
Umapela din si Barbers sa Filipino=Chinese Community na magsalita laban sa mga pagkakasangkot ng Chinese nationals sa iligal na droga at pambubully sa West Philippine Sea imbes na tawaging sinophobic ang mga tumutuligsa sa iligal na gawain.
“If they consider themselves Filipinos and are really and genuinely concerned about the country, they should speak out now. If they choose to keep their peace, then at least we know where they stand. Finally, I call on all patriotic Filipinos to join us in cleaning our country of these criminal syndicates involved in illegal drugs and POGO and get our society back from these modern-day country snatchers”, sabi pa ng mambabatas. | ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
