Executive Order to Ban POGOs Expected This Week

November 7, 2024 Philippines Crime & Legal

An executive order (EO) outlining the guidelines for the closure of all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) is expected to be issued within the week, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). The EO will provide a framework for the systematic shutdown of POGO operations, which have come under increasing scrutiny due to alleged links to criminal activities.

“Palabas na ang EO. I think within the week (The EO is close to being issued, I think it will be released within the week),” PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz was quoted as saying in a report published by GMA Network.

Cruz emphasized that the EO would not only set out the policy approach but would also clarify the roles and responsibilities of various government agencies involved in enforcing the ban.

“It’s more of magiging policy, how we will approach, what agencies are involved. Para alam ng bawat isa kung ano ang magiging trabaho nila and after ng EO, maglalabas sila ng marching orders para sa specific agencies (It’s more of a set of policies—how we will approach the ban and which agencies are involved),” Cruz explained. “After the EO is released, marching orders will be issued to specific agencies to guide their actions.”

The new executive order follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to end all POGO operations in the Philippines. In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2024, Marcos cited concerns over illegal activities connected to POGOs, such as human trafficking, fraud, and violent crimes. These concerns came to light after government raids exposed torture devices and criminal activities within some POGO hubs.

The President’s mandate instructed the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the agency responsible for regulating gambling operations in the country, to ensure that all POGO operations cease by the end of 2024. In line with this directive, the forthcoming EO will define the roles of various agencies, such as law enforcement and local government units (LGUs), to ensure a coordinated approach in shutting down the operations.

In a previous statement, Cruz outlined the timeline for the shutdown of POGOs. He mentioned that after the issuance of the EO, a “massive update” would be expected to track progress. “After the deadline, there should be a massive update,” Cruz said. “For those who refuse to close, we will take action. Local government units can shut them down, and the national government will step in if needed.”

The EO is set to provide clarity on how these agencies will coordinate to enforce the ban and handle any resistance. Cruz added that those POGO establishments that refuse to comply with the shutdown orders would be subject to immediate arrest, and local government units could move to close them down, with national authorities stepping in if the LGUs fail to act.

This move comes as part of a broader crackdown on illegal gambling activities in the country. In recent months, the Philippine government has been focusing on illegal POGO operations, which are often accused of contributing to organized crime. Reports have surfaced of POGO workers being victims of torture, human trafficking, abuse, and exploitation, particularly within certain hubs that operate outside the bounds of the law.

In September, Cruz informed a Senate panel that Malacañang planned to issue an executive order banning POGO operations “within two weeks.”