Palace: POGOs barred from quarantine communities

RAID Police on Saturday arrest 53 suspects, including 44 Chinese, during a raid on an illegal gaming operation in Parañaque City. The suspects have been running games despite the lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic. —KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING

MANILA, Philippines — Bad news for Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).They are barred from resuming operations in areas where a general community quarantine (GCQ) will be enforced by May 1.

“Yes, still not allowed. That’s under amusement and gaming,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said of POGOs in a text message to the Inquirer on Sunday.

In a radio interview, Roque pointed out that Pogos and other gaming businesses are barred from operating in Luzon and areas currently under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“Practically all nonessential industries are not being allowed to operate now,” he said.

Roque made the remarks as authorities arrested 44 Chinese workers and nine Filipinos for operating an offshore gaming hub in Parañaque City amid the ECQ.

The suspects were arrested in a house allegedly serving as a Pogo hub. The Pogo turned out to be not registered.

“We have the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act that says that if you violate protocols in this time of emergency, you can be punished. So the violation of the quarantine can be a basis for anyone to be put to trial and punished,” Roque said.

Pogos are among the amusement and gaming activities covered by lockdown restrictions that have been in force since March 17, the day that Luzon was placed under the ECQ.

Last Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the extension to May 15 of the ECQ in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas with increasing cases of new coronavirus infections.

The President also approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to declare a GCQ in other parts of the Philippines considered to be at low or moderate risk for COVID-19 cases.

Leisure, fitness, tourism

While some industries and sectors could resume partial to full operations in GCQ areas, other businesses will not be allowed to operate at all. These include those involved in leisure, amusement, gaming, fitness, recreational businesses targeting children and tourism.

All gatherings, including religious conferences, are still prohibited in GCQ areas.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) were still barred in GCQ areas.

The PCSO runs sweepstakes and lotto games, while Pagcor regulates casino and other gaming activities.

“Yes, those are under gaming. Even sports are barred. In ECQ areas, those are not allowed to operate,” Año said in a press briefing last Friday.

Gordon for POGO opening

Sen. Richard Gordon on Sunday said he was in favor of temporarily allowing POGOs to resume their activities to provide revenue to the government in funding its response to the new coronavirus pandemic.

He, however, said local governments and Pagcor should closely monitor the activities of POGOs to ensure that they would follow strict protocols during the extended ECQ in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

Roque noted that although Pagcor or POGOs could apply for an exemption, the IATF had yet to make any recommendation to allow these industries to resume operations.

Deportation

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it would file deportation cases against the 44 Chinese who were arrested in a raid on an illegal POGO in Parañaque on Friday.

“We [are] verifying their individual records to be able to file the appropriate deportation cases against them,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said on Sunday.

“We will not take this lightly. Foreign nationals that are in the country must abide by our laws lest they face criminal and immigration sanctions,” she said.

Agents from the National Capital Region Police Office seized three .45-cal. and two 9mm pistols and some 65 rounds of ammunition from the Chinese, plus 400 cell phones, 17 desktop computers, 36 laptops, nine modems and P1.3 million in cash.

At least 73 Chinese passports were also confiscated, but the authorities were not immediately certain whether some were duplicates or belonged to those who were not in the house during the raid.

—WITH REPORTS FROM TINA G. SANTOS AND MARLON RAMOS