Pasay gov’t shuts down 169 POGO hubs
A total of 169 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hubs in Pasay City have been closed since 2024 by the Pasay City Police upon the directive of Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano.
Pasay City Police chief Col. Samuel Pabonita said even before the announcement of the President to ban POGO operations in the country, Rubiano already gave clear directives to the police to crack down on all illegal POGO operations and other related illegal gambling operations in Pasay.
From December 2023 to June 2024, out of the 23 identified POGO hubs in the city, 13 of them have been ordered to cease operations due to lack of requirements by the Pasay City Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
He said the Rubiano has ordered the BPLO and the police to jointly conduct regular inspections to make sure that the directive of the President is fully implemented.
Pabonita said the mayor and the city police are jointly taking a strong stance against any form of POGO operations which is evident in their increasing enforcement efforts and close collaboration with national authorities.
He added that Pasay City has a zero-tolerance policy towards POGO operations whether they are disguised, temporary, or operated as dummy entities.