The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) vowed to catch small-scale Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) this 2025 after President Marcos’ order for their total closure lapsed on Dec. 31, 2024.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. presides over a meeting with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine National Police (PNP), and other relevant agencies on banning POGO operations on Dec. 12, 2024. (Photo from Bongbong Marcos/Facebook)
PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said in an interview on Teleradyo that most of the POGO hubs in the country closed down after the President’s 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he announced banning the controversial operations.
However, he admitted that there are still some that continue to operate and are now transitioning to small-scale operations.
“Iyong ang minomonitor natin. Definitely itong pagpasok ng bagong taon sila iyong sisimulan natin paghuhulihin (That’s what we are monitoring. Definitely, this coming year, that’s what we will start catching),” he added.
The PAOCC chief shared that the agency recently held a meeting with the President, who tasked them to go after the remaining POGOs and to coordinate with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other relevant government agencies.
In the meeting, they discussed methods to determine and identify the presence of POGO hubs in a new location.
“Hindi naman ano eh yung mga liblib, ano talagang open din ito, gusto nga nila kasi ‘yung talagang matao, ‘yung maraming foreigners ang pinupuntahan nila para di nga sila halata ano (They don’t go to remote areas, they go to open areas, they go where the people go, where foreigners go so they don’t stand out),” Cruz said.
The official also shared Marcos’ insights on how to catch these small-scale operators.
“Sabi niya (the President) gaya kung dumami yung foreigners sa isang lugar, tapos may mga nagpadagdag ng mga internet connections, tapos may mga nagde-deliver ng pagkain dun sa lugar na 'yun. Sabi mya mga indicators yaan may mga POGO operations (He said if there are suddenly many foreigners in the area, an increase in internet connections, delivery of food in that area. He said these are indicators that there POGO operations there),” he added.
The President also instructed them to implement a “whole-of-government approach” the total ban of POGOs in the country.
Cruz said the PAOCC, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other relevant national government agencies can join hands in going after the POGO hubs.
“Hindi pwedeng problema ng isang lokal, e lokal ang mag-solve. Pwedeng pagtulong-tulungan yan (The local government cannot solve this on their own. We can help each other),” he added.