Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) businesses are not our loss.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said this Monday amid the country’s allegedly looming expulsion of POGOs as tax laws are enforced on online gaming.
POGOs are not our loss, let’s not track them down. Pagcor will avoid playing POGOs with a lover. Therefore, it will give up all efforts to woe them out, “Drilon said in a statement.
“Our tax laws are clear: POGOs will have to pay franchise and withhold tax. To emphasize this point, they should be settling their unpaid taxes of P50 billion, “Drilon added.
Earlier, the Finance Department (DOF) said it is looking into rumors that some POGO outfits have resumed operations despite failing to settle tax obligations.
Drilon has called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to “immediately” enforce a “delinquent POGOs” termination order.
Senator Risa Hontiveros echoed Drilon ‘s appeal, as she urged Pagcor to waive the tax-delinquent POGO warrant.
“Pagcor will exercise its regulatory powers and strike tax-evading POGOs hard. If there are no fines, no taxes, why should they settle their tax obligations?”
Hontiveros clarified that failure to discharge financial obligations, including paying proper taxes, is a basis for license revocation.
During this community quarantine, the BIR itself confirmed that no Pogo was able to settle the P50 billion franchise and withhold tax for their reopening.
“Pagcor will make sure it upholds the best interests of the country. Hindi interest lang ng POGO (not just POGO interest),’ she added.
Follow and join us on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to be part of the trader community in Asia