No POGOs Near U.S. Bases, Says PAGCOR

Under the terms of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) refuted claims that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) were operating close to US bases.

Informing the public, PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco stated, “We haven’t licensed any POGO sites next to EDCA locations.” The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission’s (PAOCC) reports, which assert the existence of such activities, are in conflict with this. All POGOs close to an EDCA facility were deemed unlawful by Tengco.

Concerns over POGOs were disregarded by National Security Advisor Eduardo Año, who said that there was no threat to national security from them that needed to be addressed by the military. He thinks the crisis can be handled by the police and civilian organizations.

There are now only 43 licensed operators, according to PAGCOR, who claims to have taken tough measures against illegal POGOs.

Original Story by: Asian Gaming Brief