An official of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) claimed on Monday, Oct. 14, that there are now only 100 operational Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) facilities left in the country from the previous 200.
POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga (Photo from PAOCC/Facebook)
Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, the PAOCC executive director, cited a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) report that a lot of POGOs have already closed down after the ban imposed by President Marcos in July.
Others have also began winding down their operations, Cruz added.
“Bale, ang minomonitor lang po namin ‘yung mga natitira na lang po na mangilangilan siguro. Iyong dati nasa 200 ngayon siguro nasa 100 na lang ang minomonitor namin (We are now monitoring the remaining POGOs. Before, there were 200 but it’s now down to 100 that we are monitoring),” he said over Radyo 630 Teleradyo Serbisyo.
The PAOCC official is confident the government can catch those who are operating in hiding or in smaller groups.
“Namimili ng lugar ‘yan. Kahit magtago ‘yan into smaller group, nandun pa rin po yun mga indicators. Obvious naman mga indicators na yan pag gabi (They choose locations. Even if they hide in smaller groups, the indicators are still there. The indicators are obvious at night),” Cruz explained.
POGO hubs are known to operate at night because of the different timezone from where their clients belong.
“Kahit maghati-hati ng maliit kaya naman mahuli (Even if they split in smaller units, we can catch them),” he said.
Cruz also disclosed that cases will soon be filed against local chief executives who were involved in the illegal activities of these POGO hubs.
In July, Marcos ordered a ban on POGOs because of their involvement in criminal activities.
He instructed PAGCOR to “wind down and cease the operation of POGOs by the end of the year.”
On Sunday, Oct. 13, Senator Win Gatchalian said the President could sign a bill that will totally ban POGOs in the country within the 19th Congress or by June 2025.
A technical working group will meet this week to prioritize working on the proposed measure.