MANILA, April 7 -- Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday renewed her call for the immediate passage of the Anti-POGO Act, stressing the urgent need for a regional approach to dismantle transnational scam operations linked to offshore gambling.

The proposed measure, she said, targets to permanently ban operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and mandates accountability for those involved in serious crimes, rejecting the idea of deportation as a "get-out-of-jail-free card."

It also aims to repeal tax exemptions granted during the Duterte administration, while still empowering the Bureau of Internal Revenue to pursue unpaid dues.

In an interview, Hontiveros underscored the regional dimension of the iss...