The Philippine government is requiring local government units to report any POGO-related activities.
The Philippine government is ramping up its efforts to eradicate illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), as they required local government units to report any POGO-related activities.
Jonvic Remulla, Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), said this includes sudden spikes in internet usage, gatherings of foreign nationals in unregistered establishments, and attempts to set up new POGO operations.
“Malalaman iyan sa spike bigla ng bandwidth use, entry of suspicious people congregating in houses not registered as businesses, makikita iyan sa movement ng mga foreigners na gustong mag-setup diyan na hindi naman kilala (This can be identified through a sudden spike in bandwidth usage, the entry of suspicious individuals gathering in houses not registered as businesses, and the movement of foreigners attempting to set up operations without proper identification),” he said, as reported by the Inquirer.
The government has also set a deadline of December 15, 2024 for the automatic cancellation of all POGO licenses, following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Authorities estimate that there are still rogue POGOs currently operating in various locations, including residential areas, hotels, and resorts. These illegal operations are often run by former POGO employees whose companies have already ceased operations.
Remulla said that 28 local government units were listed to have been issued Pogo licenses based on PAGCOR data.
“So, they [LGUs] were enjoined to inspect [the facilities] to make sure there are no activities,” he pointed out.
The crackdown on POGOs is part of the government's broader strategy to phase out POGO operations by the end of 2024, citing concerns over tax evasion, money laundering, and social issues.
Read related article: POGOs Brought in P166.49 Billion According to Dept of Finance
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