An astute politician, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. proved in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday that being honest and sincere is the way to deliver the truest message across to your constituents. Also, picking the right topic at the right time will pay you dividends.
Both stock knowledge of political messaging were evident when Marcos faced the joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa building on July 22. Aside from coming out prepared and confident,
Bongbong Marcos just proved that he is the chip off the old block, actually his father’s son and political heir. His critics and political foes have been dancing around with swirling innuendoes and brickbats that he cannot run the nation alone, and needed help from his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez. At the SONA, the President just proved that he is his own man.
Take the case of POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations), a gaming business model that draws in truckloads of money for the private operators and the government through PAGCOR. The President announced the end of POGO in the country, and he chose the SONA to do so.
The last SONA which lasted for one and 22 minutes was interrupted by numerous clapping of hands by the audience, the most boisterous applause with standing ovation was when the President announced the banning of POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation). The other topic, the usual claim of sovereignty or ownership of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) was also applauded but not with the same vigor and enthusiasm.
The Chief Executive played to the crowd when he emphasized the evil impacts of POGO which had been with us since the time of President Noynoy Aquino, although there were illicit and negligible operations.
POGO enjoyed full dominance of the gambling industry under President Rodrigo Duterte, this despite the fact that Duterte was cozy with China, and Chinese President Xi Jinping had specifically requested him to stop the operation of POGO in the Philippines.
During the Duterte administration, rules were made on the licensing requirements for POGOs, and supervision was entrusted to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
Marcos emphasized: “Disgusting as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder. The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop.”
What made the offshore gaming a favorite topic was recent developments in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga were licensed POGOs were found to have been doing various criminal activities, such as human trafficking, torture of workers, money laundering, financial and other scams, physical violence and killings.
It was determined by financial and security experts that the Philippines are suffering the bad effects of this gaming activity where foreigners place bets on internet gambling in the Philippines. The disadvantages were in the form of peace and order troubles and national security problems, among others.
The government revenue authorities said that the P20 billion a year the government earns from POGO is a small amount compared to what it spends in police investigations, monitoring activities and other official expenses in the supervision of these gaming establishments, not to mention the negative mark it gives to our national image.
The President’s hard decision about POGO may have been influenced in part by the series of public hearings conducted in the Senate against their operations in Bamban and Porac, and how local officials have been involved.
Meanwhile, those who are less interested in POGOs since this gambling activity does not touch their lives, are more concerned about everyday problems such as the high cost of electricity.
These group of SONA listeners were happy to hear the President promising to push Congress into amending the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA Law). This law was enacted in 2001 and was supposed to lower power costs through competition and power sector reforms but like other laws with good intentions, it failed to do so.
Bongbong Marcos said, “We are revisiting and thoroughly examining the EPIRA to determine if it is still suitable for our current situation or if it is time to amend it. I am asking Congress to work together on this for the sake of the Filipino people.”
By and large, the Marcos administration is still following basically a pro-people roadmap, and the last SONA made a clear confirmation of it.
Comments