Pogos must ‘start winding up operations’ – SolGen

POGO WORKERS composite image from Inquirer file and stock photos

MANILA, Philippines — Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) must now “start winding up operations” as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a ban on all their activities by the end of the year.

Guevarra remarked at a media briefing after the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the Commission on Elections. He was asked for his reaction to Marcos’ announcement during his third State of the Nation Address on Monday.

READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’

“We interpret that to mean that no new Pogo operations will be allowed,” Guevarra said.

“I suppose that the appropriate administrative issuance will be made by the Office of the President in order to implement this policy statement,” he added.

READ: PAOCC to build Pogo foreign workers database to aid deportation

Marcos also slammed the “grave abuse and disrespect” that Pogos have brought to the country.

“Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, [and] even murder. The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop,” he said.

Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma assured the employees of Pogos that they would be taken care of amid the ban on Pogos.