Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for an increase of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission's (PAOCC) 2025 budget to sustain the agency’s efforts against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

“I commend the PAOCC for leading numerous raids against POGOS in the last few months. Unfortunately, their manpower complement is not sufficient to sustain further operations,” Gatchalian said in a recent Senate hearing on the illegal operation of POGOs.

According to Gatchalian, PAOCC must maintain its drive against POGOs for the executive branch to effectively implement the President’s directive to ban POGOs by the end of the year.

“Gusto natin na mabigyan ng mas malaking pondo ang PAOCC upang madagdagan pa ang kanilang tauhan, kagamitan, at iba pang kinakailangang suporta para mas mapalakas ang kanilang operasyon at masiguro ang mabilis at epektibong pagtugon sa mga kaso (We want the PAOCC to be provided with a larger fund so that they can increase their personnel, equipment, and other necessary support to further strengthen their operations and ensure a swift and effective response to cases),” Gatchalian said.

“We need to prepare for any eventuality including the possibility that some of these POGOs might operate underground,” he added.

Around 41 entities have Internet Gaming Licenses (IGL) from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

However, approximately 250 POGOs may be operating without licenses and could be involved in various criminalities, according to Pagcor.