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More than 150 foreigners were rescued in a raid against an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) on Saturday at a resort in Lapu-Lapu City. Photo from Annie Perez

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Pogo

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17252549008475b910c83573136f6baadb7ca6ad637c01d479f045e6cca7f3aab135120e8cefc.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">More than 150 foreigners were rescued in a raid against an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) on Saturday at a resort in Lapu-Lapu City. <em>Photo from Annie Perez</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday called on law enforcement agencies anew to step up and implement the total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as some of them continue to operate &quot;underground.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/marcos-jr-orders-pogos-to-cease-operations-by-end-of-year-1603">• Marcos: &#x27;Effective today, all POGOs are banned&#x27;</a> </div><p>“Unfortunately, sa kabila ng mga pahayag ng pangulo sa kanyang SONA, patuloy ang underground operations ng mga POGO, so I am calling on our law enforcement agencies to step up para ipatupad ang total ban ni Presidente,” Hontiveros said in a statement on Monday.  </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/13/pogo-paradise-how-the-philippines-became-a-hub-for-illegal-pogos-1524">• POGO Paradise: How the Philippines became a hub for illegal POGOs</a> </div><p>(Despite the pronouncement of the President during his State of the Nation Address, the underground operations of POGOs continue, so I am calling on our law enforcement agencies to step up and implement the total ban of the President.)</p><p>On August 31, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) raided an illegal POGO hub in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu and rescued more than 150 foreigners.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/8/31/more-than-150-foreigners-rescued-in-raid-on-illegal-pogo-in-lapu-lapu-city-1926">• More than 150 foreigners rescued in raid on illegal POGO in Lapu-Lapu City</a> </div><p>“Our hearings have strongly established that these POGOs are run by organized and syndicated criminal groups in complicit with some public officials... Kaya determinado rin tayong panagutin ang mga opisyal na nagbigay-daan at patuloy na nagpapatakbo sa mga ito (That’s why we are determined to make officials who connive with them accountable),&quot; Hontiveros said. </p><p>Hontiveros also wants stronger coordination between law enforcement, regulatory agencies and local government units. </p><p>“Dapat hindi na maulit pa ang mga ganitong modus, kabilang na ang pagsulpot ng iba’t ibang &#x27;rebranding&#x27; ng POGO. Andyan ang mga balitang magiging call center daw ang mga POGO o itatago sila sa special economic zone, at iba pang mga hocus-pocus na hindi dapat mapahintulutan,” the Senate Deputy Minority Leader said. </p><p>(This kind of modus should no longer be allowed, including the rebranding of POGO. There is information that POGOs will become call centers or will be hidden in special economic zone and other hocus-pocus scheme.) </p><p>Hontiveros also reiterated the need enforce Republic Act No. 12010 or the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) in light of the recent POGO raid in Cebu.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/7/20/marcos-signs-laws-on-new-government-procurement-anti-financial-scamming-1052">• Marcos signs laws on new government procurement, anti-financial scamming</a> </div><p>“AFASA also has a provision that allows the use of seized assets for victim protection. It is time we set the law in motion,” Hontiveros said as she emphasized the need to give justice to victims.  </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/28/bi-downgrades-visas-of-over-2-000-pogo-employees-1519">• BI downgrades visas of over 2,000 POGO employees</a> </div><p>She said the use of forced labor of human trafficking victims can be considered economic sabotage under the said law. </p><p>During his third SONA last July, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announced that he was banning POGOs and gave them until end of the year to cease operations. </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1iR8QsnVHDA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros also wants stronger coordination between law enforcement, regulatory agencies and local government units.</p>

Sen. Risa Hontiveros also wants stronger coordination between law enforcement, regulatory agencies and local government units.

Hontiveros calls on authorities to 'step up' as POGOs go 'underground'

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Hontiveros calls on authorities to 'step up' as POGOs go 'underground'

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 02, 2024 01:43 PM PHT

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