The Philippine government is set to shut down all remaining POGOs by December 31, 2024, with penalties for illegal activities and non-compliance.
The Philippine government is ramping up efforts to shut down remaining offshore gaming operations, with a firm deadline set for December 31, 2024. As of December 5, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that 47 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) are still in operation in the country.
Remulla explained that the DILG would begin conducting visitations on December 15 to monitor these firms and ensure they are in the process of winding down their operations. According to Remulla, POGOs should begin showing clear signs of ceasing their activities by this date. Additionally, the DILG will track the status of foreign workers' visas, most of whom are Chinese nationals.
“We are mounting guerrilla operations because some Filipinos have learned to set up their own POGO firms. These are smaller in scale. But one thing is clear, if you have a POGO license, you should wind down operations by December 15 and by December 31, you must close shop," Remulla was quoted as saying in a PNA report.
He added that once POGOs cease operating, any foreign workers without valid working visas should leave the Philippines, as their visas would no longer be valid.
Remulla had previously vowed to personally ensure that all POGOs in the Philippines would cease operations by the end of the year. However, the process is not without its challenges. The DILG Secretary mentioned that smaller, illegal POGO operations have sprung up. Some of these illicit firms have even been disguised as legitimate businesses, such as restaurants and resorts. In response, Remulla has instructed local chief executives to carry out thorough inspections and enforce the shutdown of these operations.
The crackdown on POGOs follows a broader effort by the Philippine government to eliminate illegal and unregulated gambling activities in the country. These measures have been taken in response to the growing concerns about the impact of POGOs, particularly their association with criminal activities such as human trafficking, money laundering, and illegal online gambling.
In support of the government's efforts, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has been actively working to rid the country of illegal POGO operations. PAOCC executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz expressed confidence that the government would succeed in eradicating any remaining illegal POGO operations. He also noted that cases would soon be filed against local government officials who have been implicated in allowing or facilitating illegal POGO activities.
Cruz’s comments come on the heels of a significant move by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who issued Executive Order No. 74 last month. This order mandates the immediate shutdown of all POGOs, as well as any internet gaming or offshore gaming operations operating without proper licensing. The executive order is part of a broader government strategy to tackle the negative effects of illegal gambling, which has raised concerns among various sectors of society, particularly in relation to the involvement of foreign workers in these operations.
READ: President Marcos Signs Executive Order 74 Enforcing POGO Ban
While POGOs were initially introduced as a source of revenue for the government, the sector has faced increasing scrutiny due to its association with a range of criminal activities. There have been numerous reports of human trafficking, with foreign workers being brought into the country under questionable circumstances. Some reports have also suggested that the influx of foreign nationals working in POGOs has strained local resources and contributed to rising crime rates.
The shutdown of POGOs is expected to have a significant impact on both the gambling industry and the foreign workers who have been employed in these firms. For many of these workers, their employment in POGOs has been a major source of income. However, without valid working visas, they will have no choice but to leave the country.
The Philippine government has indicated that the next step in the campaign to shut down POGOs will involve a comprehensive effort to monitor the progress of these closures. Local government officials have been directed to step up inspections to ensure that all POGOs are in compliance with the government’s deadline.
Read related article: Child of POGO Workers Caught in Deportation Dilemma
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