PNP Cracks Down on Moonlighting Officers Tied to POGOs

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is stepping up its efforts to combat employees who work two jobs, especially those who guard Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

General Rommel Francisco Marbil, the Chief of the Philippine National Police, gave the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and Internal Affairs Service (IAS) permission to conduct thorough personnel audits in response to earlier scandals.

This crackdown comes after two Special Action Force commandos involved in a confrontation related to POGO and Staff Sgt. Rafael Boco—who doubled as a security escort—were arrested. Marbil placed a strong emphasis on accountability, holding immediate managers accountable for the actions of their subordinates.

During their shift, police officers are not allowed to work in other jobs, with the exception of licensed physicians and attorneys. By addressing concerns about POGOs—which have come under investigation due to alleged illicit activities linked to celebrities like “POGO Mayor” Alice Guo—this strategy aims to rebuild public trust.

The absence of background checks for both operators and staff was mentioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, a strong opponent of POGOs who raised security and regulatory issues.

Original Story by: Asian Gaming Brief