80% of 400 Pogo hubs shut down; small-scale ops monitored

80% of 400 Pogo hubs shut down; small-scale ops monitored

2024, the year of reckoning for Pogos, IGLs

Graphics by: Samuel Yap / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — At least 80 percent of the 400 Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) hubs have already ceased their operations in the country, while those defying the total ban order have resorted to a “guerilla” style of operations.

This information was given by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Tuesday.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program, PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said “small-scale” Pogo operations in Northern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are being monitored.

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Cruz said around 27,000 of 40,000 Pogo workers in the country have already been deported by the Bureau of Immigration.

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He said some of those operating the Pogo hub in Porac, Pampanga, were able to escape and continued their illegal activities mostly in Visayas.

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He said the small-scale Pogos are usually composed of 20 to 50 individuals renting two rooms to conduct scamming activities.

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“Mayroon po tayong mga monitoring na ginagawa and ‘yun nga, nakatutok din tayo sa Visayas kasi may mga reports tayo na natatanggap na naglipatan,” Cruz said.

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(We have monitoring activities going on and that is why we are also focusing on Visayas because we have received reports that they transferred there.)

“‘Yung ibang nakawala doon, ang monitoring namin, nagtakbuhan ng Visayas and Mindanao. But mostly sa Visayas namin nakita,” he noted.

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(The others who escaped, based on our monitoring, are in the Visayas and Mindanao. But mostly, we have seen them in the Visayas.)

Cruz said small-scale Pogos are working in smaller areas, such as resorts, apartments, subdivisions, or gated communities.

He added that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is convinced that the Pogos would not be able to continue their operations in the country “without the knowledge ng mga (of) local government officials, especially the barangay (village) officials.”

The sudden influx of foreigners in areas such as private resorts, as well as the rise in food deliveries, are possible indicators that there is a Pogo operation, Cruz said.

“Ang POGO kasi, hindi naman tatayo yan dahil (Pogos would not be able to operate because) they need online, internet connections,” he stressed.

“They need computers. Kailangan nila ng tao. Kailangan nila ng foreign nationals para mag-guide sa kanila o magtimon sa kanila,” he pointed out.

(They need manpower. They need foreigners who can guide or lead them.)

“So, sa ngayon, gumagamit pa rin sila ng mga foreign nationals at yung foreign nationals pa rin ‘yung nasa ulo ng small-scale Pogo operation and yung mga keyboard operators, mga Filipino,” he added.

(For now, they are still using foreigners and those foreigners are still the ones behind the small-scale Pogo operation and those keyboard operators are Filipinos.)

Cruz earlier said cases have been filed against local executives because of their negligence and failure to address widespread Pogo activities within their jurisdictions.

In his third State of the Nation Address in July last year, Marcos announced a nationwide ban on all Pogos, legitimate and otherwise, with a complete phaseout by Dec. 31, 2024.

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The announcement came after the industry was marred with human trafficking, prostitution, abductions, and murders.

Marcos signed Executive Order 74 on Nov. 4 last year, imposing an immediate ban on offshore and internet gaming operations in the country.

TAGS: Philippine offshore gaming operators, pogo

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