Senators have urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to intensify its crackdown on unlicensed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) that are still operating in the country, citing their threat to national security.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said that aside from security concerns raised on POGO operations near military bases, reports on some 250 others operating without licenses should prompt concerned agencies to conduct a crackdown on these illegal entities. 

“Kung may sapat na impormasyon na ang PAGCOR tungkol dito, huwag na sana silang magpa tumpik-tumpik pa sa pagpapasara ng mga illegal o unlicensed na POGOs (If PAGCOR has sufficient information about this, they should immediately work for the closure of these illegal or unlicensed POGOs),” Estrada said in a statement on Thursday, June 13.

“Sa pakikipagtulungan sa Bureau of Immigration ng PAGCOR, dapat na i-cancel din ang mga visa ng mga dayuhang empleyado ng mga unlicensed POGOs at ipatupad ang agarang deportation proceedings sa kanila (With PAGCOR’s coordination with the BI, they should also cancel the visa of the foreign employees of these unlicensed POGOs and immediately file deportation proceedings against them),” he said. 

Sen. Loren Legarda also urged law enforcement authorities to take drastic action to prevent further criminal elements to use POGOs as fronts and “shut them down now.”

“Deport the mainland Chinese who are illegally operating in the POGOs, especially those involved in criminal activities. This is for the sake of the Filipino nation,” Legarda said. 

“POGOs are a national security threat. Recent discoveries have been very alarming on the human rights and national security fronts,” she further said. 

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero also said he agrees with the recommendation of Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., whom he said seems to be referring to illegal POGO operations.

Teodoro earlier warned that criminal syndicates posing as POGO hubs are national security concerns.

“In fact, all illegal POGOs should be closed whether they are close to our military bases or not and their perpetrators arrested,” Escudero said.

“If, on the other hand, he is also referring to ‘legal’ POGOs, then I suggest that he discuss this matter of ‘national concern’ with PAGCOR as it may involve national security,” he added.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who is leading the Senate probe into the human trafficking and other crimes linked to POGO activities, commended Teodoro’s statement.

“Secretary Teodoro only confirms what I have been stating all along: POGOs are an undeniable national security risk,” Hontiveros said.

“I would also like to urge him to advise the President not only to stop POGOs near Philippine military bases, but also to forbid the entire POGO industry from operating in our country,” she said. 

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also commended the DND chief for making such assessment: “As defense secretary, he possesses privileged information and intelligence that convinced him to make that statement.”

“In addition to the proliferation of heinous crimes associated with POGOs, the industry has raised serious national security concerns that must be addressed promptly and with strong political will,” Gatchalian stressed.

He further said Teodoro’s assessment that POGOs pose a threat to national security “reinforces our call for the immediate ban on POGOs from the country.”