Palace supports move to require POGOs to register with BIR

Malacañang backed the move of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to include proof of tax registration and payment in renewing the licenses of offshore gaming operators who have already hired a growing number of Chinese workers.

Presidential spokesmann Salvador Panelo stated this after the BIR asked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to include these documents as requirement in renewing the licenses of Philippine-based offshore gaming operators (POGOs). A POGO is a business that provides games to players, taking bets and paying the winners through an online gaming account.

In his press briefing, Panelo said the move of the BIR is a good way to ensure that all Chinese nationals in the country are not violating any laws.

“That's a good measure to determine exactly how many Chinese nationals who are here in violation of our laws. Palagay ko maganda yung sinasabi ng BIR commissioner (I think it is a good move by the BOR Commissioner),” he said.

Asked if the government is now alarmed with the growing number of possibly illegal Chinese workers in the country, Panelo said the BIR's request to Pagcor is also one way to ensure that the government is getting the right amount of taxes.

“Siguro hindi naman alarmed pero siguro gusto din talaga ma-determine ng BIR ang number of nationals kasi konektado 'yan sa declaration of income, eh (I don't think they are alarmed but maybe the BIR wants to determine the number of nationals because that is connected with the declaration of income),” he said.

“Para makakolekta tayo ng tamang (It's also so we can collect the appropriate) corporate tax,” he added.

In a statement over the weekend, the Department of Finance (DOF) said the BIR wants to go after POGOs and has asked the Pagcor not to renew their licenses until they register with the BIR.

The BIR reportedly wants to join the task force led by the Labor Department and the Bureau of Immigration after the number of foreigners who want to take on POGO jobs in the country increase.

The Bureau of Immigration had earlier said that online gaming played a factor on the increasing number of Chinese workers in the country.