Mayors are urged to conduct inspections of businesses following reports that POGOs are attempting to disguise themselves as resorts and restaurants in order to avoid detection.
Philippine authorities urged local government units to inspect establishments even after permitting them to operate. This comes amid reports of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) attempting to masquerade themselves as resorts and restaurants to evade detection.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said this in response to a question by Senator Risa Hontiveros about the continuity of the POGO shutdown after the deadline set by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“I believe it transferred the one in Porac and hid there in Lapu-Lapu. So it is really up to a lot of the mayors that when they issue occupancy permits, they have to inspect the premises and make sure that what it is intended for is what’s happening,” Remulla said, as reported by the Inquirer.
Remulla was referring to incidents in Porac, Pampanga and Lapu-Lapu. In Lapu-Lapu, it was reported that a POGO hub masqueraded as a restaurant and a hotel.
Senators, including Hontiveros flagged an "alarming trend" of guerilla operations which would take over the presence of POGOs in the Philippines. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier mentioned this in a previous statement, reiterating that PNP should have enough intelligence funds to monitor these operations.
Earlier this month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 74, mandating a complete ban on POGO operations by December 31, 2024. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has been tasked to intensify their efforts against illegal activities such as human trafficking, online scams, and kidnappings linked to POGOs.
Read related article: Senator Wants Increase in Intelligence Fund vs. POGOs
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