WE HEARD it loud and clear from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission or PAOCC this week, that at least 80 percent of the 400 Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs have ceased operations.
Which means there are still 80 resorting to what PAOCC said are resorting to “guerrilla” style of operations.
If anything, PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said, during a Bagong Pilipinas program, “small-scale” Pogo operations in Northern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are being monitored, adding around 27,000 of 40,000 POGO workers in the country have been deported by the Bureau of Immigration.
This year, even “small-scale operations” of POGOs are no longer allowed after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. totally banned their operations during his State of the Nation Address in July 2024 and ordered them closed down completely by Dec. 31, 2024.
We heard Cruz say these small-scale operations will be pursued by PAOCC and other government agencies, and asked local government units and even ordinary citizens monitor and report them, after President Marcos told those on the chase there still remain “indicators” of small-scale POGO operations.
Small-scale POGOs typically operate in discreet locations like resorts, apartments, subdivisions, or gated communities. As Cruz said unusual surges in foreign nationals at private resorts and a spike in food deliveries indicate a POGO operation may be up.
President Marcos Jr. is on track in saying POGOs cannot continue without the involvement of local government officials, particularly barangay leaders.
Verily, coordination should be high in the discipline of government agencies, with a whole of government approach, in pursuing the remaining ball park figure of 80 doing the “guerrilla” style operations.
The small-scale operators will effectively be on the law enforcement officers’ radar screen since these operators would still need foreigners as partners and collaborators in shifting gears, as it were, for their operations.
A Department of Finance study earlier said POGO activities remarkably outweigh the economic and social benefits derived from the POGO industry because of the risks and negative impact like increased crime rates, social instability, and exploitation of vulnerable people associated with them.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council Report also indicated POGOs have been been defenseless against money laundering, fraud, and other illicit financial activities, and thus pose substantial threats to the integrity of the national financial system.
The President’s Executive Order, signed on Nov 5, 2024, underlines these risks, saying “The high reputational risks associated with POGO/IGL (Internet Gaming Licensees) operations deter foreign investment and tourism, undermining the efforts of the National Government in promoting the country as a safe and sustainable investment and tourism destination.”
All POGOs/IGLs and other offshore gaming-related/auxiliary/ancillary services with issued licenses, permits were expected to completely cease operations, including the winding up of their affairs, on Dec. 31, 2024 or earlier.
The negative impact unleashed by POGOs since 2016, now punching Filipinos in the eye, suggests vigilance on the part of everyone.
