National Security and Gambling

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has every right to be worried about the Chinese casinos sprouting out like mushrooms in the country under the so called Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) allowed and authorized by the Phillipine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and which are located near key government facilities and military installations.

Let us not forget that China for all its alleged peaceful intentions and overtures towards other countries especially those seeking its help and financial assistance has not denied its plan for global domination, not militarily perhaps at the beginning of its planned expansion and encroachment of other territories but economically by extending its financial and trade influence to choke its future foreign subjects.

This strategy is already too obvious and for everyone to see – the one belt one road global strategy of China is one clear example – of how the ‘sleeping dragon’ is not really in slumber but aggressively awake and swallowing territory at a breakneck pace.

Let us not also forget that the greatest strategists of war came from China. The Chinese general and military strategist Sun Tzu whose book ‘The Art of War’ significantly affected Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking has this to say in conquering the enemy’s territory:

  1. In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy’s country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.
  2. Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. 3. Xxx. 4. Xxx. 5. Xxx. 6. Therefore the skillful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field. (got this particular observation from Jeremiah Olfindo Dayto in the Philippine Defense Forces Forum)

Now going back to the matter of POGOs in the country the Chinese government recently expressed concern that many of its nationals involved in cross border gambling were recruited illegally but balked at the proposal of PAGCOR that these Chinese offshore gaming workers employed in POGOs be confined to designated ‘hubs’ for better monitoring and regulation.

The explanation given by the Chinese government of their opposition to the PAGCOR proposal is that it may infringe on the basic legal rights of their citizens. That is simply nonsense.

PAGCOR should immediately implement its proposal to confine these POGOs to designated ‘hubs’ that are at a distance from any key installation or military facilities of the government. If possible concentrate all of the POGOs in one area such as an island where the country can still exercise its sovereignty.

This will take care, albeit momentarily, the concern of Defense Secretary Lorenzana. Let us remember that these POGOs conduct their business online and so they can operate just about anywhere in the country where internet or wi-fi is available.

Habagat!

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