MANILA: The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) announced a significant reduction in the number of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) currently under surveillance. According to the latest data, only 100 POGO hubs remain active, marking a substantial decrease in operations.
According to Philippines News Agency, PAOCC executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, in a recent radio interview, attributed the decline to various closures and ongoing shutdowns of these operations. The information was initially provided by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which has been actively monitoring the situation. Cruz expressed confidence in the government’s ability to completely eradicate illegal POGO activities soon.
Cruz further explained that despite the reduction in numbers, the remaining POGOs tend to operate at night due to timezone advantages that favor their predominantly overseas clientele. He also noted that legal actions are imminent against local chief execu
tives who have been found complicit in these illegal activities. The ongoing investigations, conducted jointly by lawmakers, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other government bodies, have started to bear fruit, identifying several individuals involved in the POGO industry.
The crackdown on POGOs aligns with the directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who, in his third State of the Nation Address in July, declared a total ban on POGOs, effective immediately. The President tasked PAGCOR with ceasing the operations of these gambling firms by year-end and directed the Department of Labor and Employment to assist in re-employment of the displaced Filipino workers.
The government’s decisive actions aim to curb the social and economic issues associated with the POGO industry, which has faced criticism for fostering illegal activities and social disruptions.