Thread by @rapplerdotcom

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on treating POGOs as BPOs: To say that POGOs are part of our BPO industry is a dangerous argument. It has far-reaching implications that will put the government at a grave disadvantage. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: The POGOs can use the statement as a defense against paying the five percent franchise tax being imposed by the government. It will also put at risk the license fee being collected by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: If POGOs are considered BPOs, then there would be no need to pay the franchise tax and the license fee. Hindi na nga nagbabayad ng buwis. Ngayon gusto pa yatang bigyan ng incentives tulad ng totoong BPOs. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: The Bureau of Internal Revenue is already having difficulty collecting taxes from POGOs as it is. With the statement putting them on the same league as BPOs, even the collection of the franchise tax could be put in peril. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: That’s a very deceptive assertion. It is the POGOs that owe the government billions of pesos in unpaid taxes. Bayaran muna nila yan. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: We wish the BIR success in running after delinquent POGOs. Thus, we hope that officials of the administration will refrain from issuing statements that could further undermine the efforts exerted by the agency in collecting unpaid taxes from POGOs. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: If only these POGOs would pay their taxes, the amount would go a long way in our effort to alleviate the plight of the poor heavily affected by the crisis caused by the Coronavirus disease. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: Let us not circumvent the law. They cannot choose what law to apply whenever it is convenient for them. Dati hindi sila BPO, ngayon BPO na? POGOs are engaged in gambling. Hence, they should be subject to the same rules that other gambling establishments are subjected to.

@reyaika Drilon: If the gaming industry is not allowed to operate during the Enhanced Community Quarantine, then POGOs should not be allowed either. No special treatment, please. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: If POGOs are really BPOs, then there is no need to hire Mandarin-speakers as employees on the premise that they are only engaged in back office support, no face-to-face transactions are involved. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: In that case, the DOLE and the Bureau of Immigration should no longer issue work permits for foreign employees of POGOs. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: Remember that the DOLE gives work permits to foreigners only upon the premise that there is no person in the Philippines who is competent and able to perform the services for which the alien is required. | via @reyaika

@reyaika Drilon: The truth, however, is that the POGOs are casino dealers. They deal directly with the bettors and gamblers. They are not involved in back office support at all. | via @reyaika