PBBM SONA
TACLOBAN CITY — Leaders in Eastern Visayas have expressed their praise and support for the pronouncements made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on Monday, July 22.
Rep. Jude Acidre of the Tingog party-list group lauded the President banning the POGO operations, stating that it will help “restore public order and address the social economic issues associated” with their operations.
“The President’s decision to ban POGOs is a significant step towards restoring public and addressing the social and economic issues associated with these operations,” he said in a statement.
“This move will lessen the negative impacts of gambling activities to ensure a safer and more secure environment for Filipinos. I applaud our President for listening to our economic managers and security advisors,” Rep. Acidre added.
For his part, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone expressed his strong support for President Marcos’s stance on banning the operations of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), echoing the President’s sentiment that their operations bring more harm than good to the country.
“Indeed, POGOs have brought more harm than good to our country and people. The challenge is now in the hands of our law enforcement agencies to ensure that these POGOs do not go underground,” the governor said.
Both leaders also lauded the President’s declaration on the issue of the West Philippine Sea.
“We should rally behind President Marcos’s stand on this issue,” Evardone said.
Acidre urged China to respect the President’s declaration, noting that there is already a ruling favoring the Philippines as the rightful owner of the disputed West Philippine Sea.
“His statements must be met with respect by the Chinese government to stop harassing Filipino coast guards and fisherfolk, as the Permanent Court of Arbitration had decided,” he said.
Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan also expressed his support with the President in defending the West Philippine Sea.
“We are one with the President in defending the West Philippine Sea from foreign takeover,” he said. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA, JOEY A. GABIETA)
