The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is urging lawmakers to expedite the passage of the Anti-POGO Bill, citing the growing threat of illegal offshore gaming operations to national security, public health, and local governance.
PAOCC Executive Director and Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said the proposed legislation is critical in holding accountable not only foreign POGO operators, but also local officials and private property owners who enable these illicit activities.
“Regarding the anti-POGO Bill released by Congress and our Senate, local government units will really be held liable if they allow POGO operations in their respective areas. Even those who are private owners of resorts, condominiums, and gated subdivisions,” Cruz said in a televised interview.
Cruz said the bill will empower law enforcement by establishing stronger legal grounds to prosecute individuals and entities that provide safe haven or operational space to illegal POGO groups.
This includes property owners who knowingly lease condos, resorts, or private homes to operators engaged in criminal activity.
Under current laws, individuals who knowingly allow a crime to be committed on their premises can already be charged, but Cruz noted that enforcement has been limited by technicalities.
The Anti-POGO Bill, he said, would solidify legal mechanisms and remove ambiguity.
“We have a law that if you allow, allowing a crime to be committed, we have a case there. It’s also like harboring a criminal if they are caught with wanted POGO workers because we have incidents where we arrest wanted persons,” Cruz said.
“At the same time, if you allow criminal activity to occur in your area or the place you are renting out, you can be charged, so that’s not okay, that’s in our law, that’s prohibited,” he said.
Cruz expressed gratitude to lawmakers and the executive branch for supporting the anti-POGO campaign, including the crafting of the bill.
Cruz also noted the importance of clear inter-agency coordination once the law is passed.
