The Philippine government targets both legal and illegal POGOs, with 58-200 still active despite President Marcos Jr.'s recent announcement of a POGO ban.
The Philippine government is ramping up efforts to shut down Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) across the country, with a focus on both legal and illegal operations. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) announced on Wednesday that between 58 and 200 POGOs are still active, despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s announcement of a POGO ban during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) two months ago.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio confirmed that the agency is taking the president’s directive seriously. “Marami pa rin kaming natatanggap na mga report na nagpapatuloy pa ata itong mga iligal na POGO,” he said during an interview on TeleRadyo Serbisyo. He emphasized the urgency of closing down all operations by the end of the year. “Dapat by the end of the year, wala na lahat ‘yan,” he added.
As part of the wind-down process, Casio stated that all POGOs should transition to purely administrative functions by October 16. “Mapa-legal or iligal man, dapat nagsasara na talaga sila,” he reiterated. The PAOCC is in discussions with the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of PAGCOR to ensure that both legal and illegal POGOs comply with the shutdown order. However, challenges remain, especially regarding administrative matters like settling dues to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and any potential severance pay for employees.
Before the ban, estimates indicated that between 58 and 400 POGOs were operational in the country, both legal and illegal. This regulatory action follows the Bureau of Immigration’s recent reminder to foreign POGO workers to downgrade their visas before the October 15 deadline. Over 10,000 foreign workers have begun this process, allowing them to switch to temporary visitor visas, which will let them remain in the country for up to 59 days while they wind down their affairs. The Bureau has warned that failure to comply by December 31 could result in deportation or blacklisting.
In a related effort, new Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has pledged to ensure all POGOs cease operations by December, aligning with the president’s directive. The government’s crackdown on POGOs has not been without incidents; recently, law enforcement in Cebu raided what appeared to be an illegal POGO hub in Moalboal, a popular diving destination in southwestern Cebu.
On October 9, police raided a rental establishment in Barangay Saavedra, leading to the apprehension of 38 undocumented Chinese nationals engaged in POGO activities. The police reported that the operation was initiated after receiving tips about suspicious activities at the site. During the raid, numerous computers and electronic devices were confiscated. The arrested individuals are currently being held at a nearby resort while investigations continue.
This latest operation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in policing the gaming sector in the Philippines. Just a month earlier, the PAOCC had shut down another illegal POGO hub in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island, rescuing 162 victims of human trafficking in the process. These incidents underline the complexity of the POGO landscape, where illegal activities often intertwine with legitimate operations, complicating enforcement efforts.
Read related article: Alleged POGO Boss Nabbed in Cebu Tries to Bribe His Way Out of Lapu-Lapu City Raid
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