5,000 Cavite residents feared to lose jobs as closure of Kawit POGO hub looms

October 18, 2024 Philippines Crime & Legal

Some 5,000 residents in Cavite are feared to lose their jobs, as the closure of a POGO hub in Kawit town, Cavite looms. Kawit mayor Angelo Aguinaldo confirmed this to ABS-CBN News, as reported in TV Patrol on October 17, 2024.

“With the closure of the POGO hub in Kawit, more or less 5,000 to 7,000 people will lose their jobs,” Aguinaldo shared in Filipino.

The POGO hub, which operates inside Island Cove, is one of the largest taxpayers and employee-generating businesses, Aguinaldo said.

Authorities have now issued an office closure to the four internet gaming licensees (IGL) contained in the compound, while the POGO hub is currently trying to comply before the December 15 deadline set by newly-installed Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

“That will be the first one to be closed. And correction, it’s not ours. It was our property, but it’s not ours today. That will be the first one to close, just to show a proof of sincerity that I will start with my province and make sure that it is closed,” Remulla said in a media interview in Pasay City.

“They inquired for the closure of their business. Hopefully, next week they start submitting the LGU’s requests for these,” Aguinaldo said.

POGO Crackdown Across PH

In Tagaytay City, National Bureau of Investigation officials arrested 17 Chinese nationals were arrested at a resort operating as a POGO in Barangay Francisco.

The NBI Cybercrime Division received a tip from a Chinese national that a fellow foreigner was being tortured. The rescued victim was beaten up and electrocuted as he wanted to escape from a group of scammers, according to an Abante Tonite report.

Meanwhile, Cagayan De Oro authorities have started the inspection of storage houses and other areas suspected of operating POGOs. This is after PAOCC’s revelation that some POGO operators are still active, splintering themselves to smaller groups and headquartering in smaller buildings.