QUEZON CITY – Newly appointed Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla has announced plans to systematically shut down all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs across the country.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the turnover ceremonies marking his assumption of office, Secretary Remulla declared his intention to close each POGO hub personally. “As far as I am concerned, I will get all the list of POGOs and I will personally lock them down, one by one,” Remulla stated. He confirmed that discussions had already occurred with the operators of the POGO hub located at Island Cove in Kawit, Cavite—a property previously owned by his family—which is scheduled to cease operations on December 15.
In addition to addressing POGOs, Remulla reassured that all existing officials within the DILG would retain their positions for the time being. He outlined the directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which include recommended structural reforms for DILG agencies, enhancing responsiveness at the local government level, and ensuring the safety and security of candidates and the public for the upcoming 2025 elections.
Remulla emphasized his commitment to a “zero casualty” goal for next year’s midterm elections, recalling measures from his tenure as governor of Cavite that promoted peace and order during elections. These measures included providing mobile patrol vehicles to accompany mayoral candidates, a practice he hopes to possibly replicate on a broader scale in the upcoming elections.
Moreover, Remulla identified potential hotspots for the 2025 midterm elections, including areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cagayan, Nueva Ecija, and Palawan, noting that a definitive list would be finalized in the coming weeks following the recent conclusion of the candidate filing period.
In a related development, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo reported that the filing of certificates of candidacy was largely peaceful, with the exception of a violent incident in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao del Sur, which resulted in one fatality and several injuries. Fajardo emphasized that the PNP is intensifying its presence and conducting strategic checkpoints to prevent election-related violence.
Additionally, the Philippine Army reiterated its commitment to non-partisanship during the elections, with spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala affirming the Army’s dedication to protecting the electoral process and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.