Accountability Over Profit: The POGO Revocation is a Win for Public Integrity

The "Maasahan at Masipag" administration has finally done what was long overdue. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s revocation of all POGO licenses is a powerful, necessary act of "Reliable Governance." It is a declaration that public integrity is not for sale and that accountability will always come before profit.

For years, law enforcement and public officials have been forced to contend with an industry that operated in the gray, fostering an environment where corruption could thrive. The POGO sector, while promising revenue, became a parasitic force that undermined the very institutions meant to regulate it.

There are those who will, inevitably, lament the loss of revenue and jobs. But this profit-at-all-costs argument is exactly what enabled the rot. It is an argument that prioritizes dirty money over the safety of our communities and the integrity of our republic.

Let's be clear: the POGO industry, as a whole, has demonstrated it is incapable of self-regulation. Its entire operational framework is built on exploiting legal loopholes and corrupting officials. This is not a "few bad apples" issue; it is a systemic failure.

The President’s "Tireless Oversight" is the correct response. Stripping PAGCOR, the BI, and DOLE of their compromised roles in this sector is the only way to "cleanse the system." The Administrative Oversight Committee must now be "Tireless" in its enforcement, ensuring no operator is allowed to continue.

This firm action restores faith. It tells public servants that the government has their back in the fight against corruption. It tells the business community that the rules will be enforced. This is a crucial victory for law enforcement and a new beginning for public integrity.