DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz, and PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco led the visit and inspection of the Technical Working Group on offshore gaming operations at the Island Cove facility in Kawit, Cavite on Dec. 17. (John Louie Abrina/MANILA BULLETIN)
CAVITE – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla led the closure of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facilities at the former Island Cove property in Kawit, Cavite, on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Also present during the inspection and ceremonial closure were Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Executive Director Gilbert Cruz, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco.
DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz, and PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco led the visit and inspection of the Technical Working Group on offshore gaming operations at the Island Cove facility in Kawit, Cavite on Dec. 17. (John Louie Abrina/MANILA BULLETIN)
Island Cove is a property formerly owned by the Remulla family, which they sold in 2017.
“As of last month, wala nang kuryente ‘yung mga buildings dito, pinatay na. Makikita n’yo naman, wala nang signs of habitation dito, wala nang signs of business (As of last month, the electricity in these buildings was cut off. You can see there are no longer any signs of habitation or business here),” Remulla told the media.
The DILG Secretary said the 30-hectare property has 57 buildings and, at its peak, employed around 15,000 Filipinos and 15,000 foreign Chinese workers.
Remulla said the Filipinos who lost their jobs due to the closure of the Island Cove POGO hub were prioritized in the job fairs organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Most of the Chinese nationals, meanwhile, have already left the country as their working visas have been downgraded to tourist visas.