Unang Balita is the news segment of GMA Network's daily morning program, Unang Hirit. It's anchored by Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Ivan Mayrina, and Mariz Umali, and airs on GMA-7 Mondays to Fridays at 5:30 AM (PHL Time). For more videos from Unang Balita, visit http://www.gmanetwork.com/unangbalita.
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NewsTranscript
00:00As we saw in that video, Senator Rizonteveros is one of those who are happy that President Bongbong Marcos is banning all Pogos in the country.
00:08And before that and other issues, we will interview Senator Rizonteveros. Senator, good morning to you. Welcome to Unang Balita.
00:16Thank you and good morning Ivan and to all of our viewers and listeners.
00:24Okay Sen, some have noticed yesterday that this is the first time that President Bongbong Marcos is banning you from Pogo.
00:32How big is this, Senator? How important is this directive from the President?
00:37Very, very important. Actually, I was the first one to be banned when they reiterated their position on the West Philippine Sea.
00:45But I was shocked when they announced that as of yesterday, Pogos will be banned.
00:55They will wind down all of them until the end of the year.
00:59They will start looking for new and recent jobs in the tens of thousands of our countrymen who work there.
01:10So I commend the President for his resolute pronouncement.
01:14But first of all, to all Pogos, legal or illegal, goodbye. This is a huge success for the country.
01:25Senator, Pogos, legal or illegal, you're making that distinction.
01:30International Gaming Licensee, the so-called IGL, is mentioned.
01:36In your understanding, and is this how it's supposed to be interpreted, all of them are gone, including IGL?
01:43Even IGL is gone. Actually, it's a new instrument of PAGCOR, which is the successor of Pogo's previous licenses.
01:51But with the President's pronouncement yesterday, even that should be gone.
01:57As the President of the Senate Committee on Women, the first one to investigate crimes related to Pogo,
02:06I cannot forgive the happiness and cruelty of the prohibition of Pogo in the country.
02:13Whatever license they have, it's irrelevant if they started legal or illegal Pogo because of the crimes they brought.
02:23That's why all of them are banned.
02:25Pogos, legal or illegal, have brought innumerable and unspeakable social ills into the country.
02:33That's why the announcement yesterday is an important start in a long run,
02:39to answer those who are involved in the crimes brought by Pogo in our country.
02:47Sen, the government has revenue losses due to the disappearance of Pogos, as well as the workers who work for Pogos.
02:55What is your proposal? How do we help them?
03:00We will help them based on the data from the government agencies.
03:06How small is the net financial benefit of Pogos in our country in the past eight years,
03:15since Duterte's virtual open-door policy on Pogos in our country.
03:21The rosy promises in the past, whether in terms of revenues or jobs,
03:28their debt to the government is still huge.
03:33In the process I mentioned earlier, we will ensure that there will be a just transition for the Filipino workers who work for Pogos.
03:46This is part of our push for decent jobs for our workers.
03:51Sen, what will be the impact of the President's order to ban Pogos in your investigation in the Senate?
03:57Our Senate hearings will continue to demand accountability.
04:03We will continue to ensure that the strength of the police
04:09can stop industries like Pogos from ever emerging again.
04:15Suspended Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Goh, or Goh Waping.
04:22Do you have a feeling that she will be brought to the next hearing?
04:26Oh no, not yet.
04:28Despite the fact that her lawyer did not come to meet us,
04:32her niece and her family members have not been seen.
04:38But they are still being looked for by the Senate Office of the Sergeant at Arms with the help of the NPI.
04:44While we are waiting for her to be brought to the next hearing on the 29th of this month,
04:53thank you to all the victim survivors, whistleblowers, and government agencies like DOJ, IACAT, PAO, NBI and others.
05:05All of them helped us in our investigation in the Senate
05:09to reveal the seriousness surrounding Pogos.
05:13We owe you this victory.
05:15Sen, more on the SONA.
05:17What are the issues that you wanted to discuss but you did not hear?
05:22There are many more, Ivan.
05:25First of all, the economy, agriculture, and energy.
05:29Then, health and education.
05:34The big area of silence of the President.
05:38It's a shame that after they said that extermination was never part of the solution to problematic drug use.
05:46It's a shame that he did not talk about the ICC.
05:49Because the extermination that was used by Duterte in his blood-soaked war on drugs,
06:00he should be held accountable for the lives lost and the families, tens of thousands of them, who were killed.
06:10I hope that the agenda of women and children, aside from the big pronouncement against Pogos,
06:18and the important re-establishment of their position in the West Philippine Sea.
06:24How many more issues are there?
06:26The national defense, national security, and foreign relations.
06:30Senator, thank you for joining us this morning.
06:33Thank you for your time.
06:34Thank you, Ivan.
06:35We talked to Senator Risa Ontiveros.
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06:44For Kapuso Abroad, join us on GMA Pinoy TV and www.gmainews.tv.