Government security forces raid a BPO compound in Bagac, Bataan on October 31,2024 alleged to be an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), following a search warrant for human trafficking violations. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA — Government agencies are working together to monitor areas with indicators that suggest the presence of small-scale Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators as implementation of the ban on them begins inn 2025.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr this year issued an executive order directing POGOs to cease operations by December 31 as part of an announcement that he made at his State of the Nation Address in July.

PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said that small-scale POGOs have sprouted in parts of the country and will be the subject of operations in the new year.

“Talagang gumagawa na sila ng small-scale POGO operation sa mga, hindi naman ano eh yung mga liblib, ano talagang open din ito, gusto nga nila kasi yung talagang matao, yung maraming foreigners ang pinupuntahan nila para di nga sila halata ano," he said.

(They are really putting up small-scale POGO operations in places where there are many people. Where there are many foreigners so they will not be easily noticed)

He said that Marcos Jr. told the PAOCC that these illegal POGOs will not be able to operate without local government units noticing, adding there would be signs of possible POGO operations in an area.

 “Sabi niya gaya kung dumami yung foreigners sa isang lugar, tapos may mga nagpadagdag ng mga internet connections, tapos may mga nagde-deliver ng pagkain sa lugar na 'yun," he said.

(The President mentioned indicators like an influx of foreigners in one place, an increase in applications for internet connections, and a rise ion food deliveries)

NATIONAL AGENCIES TO HELP LGUS

Cruz said that the President ordered agencies to help local government units that may not have the resources and personnel to launch operations against the POGOs.

“Puwede naman samahan yan ng PAOCC o kaya ng [National Bureau of Investigation] o kaya ng mga national government agencies para tulong-tulong," he said.

(The PAOCC or NBI or other national government agencies can go with them so we will be working hand-in-hand)

He said that Marcos Jr. sees POGOs as needing a whole-of-government approach and that these shouldn't be seen as local problems for the local government unit to solve.

Cruz warned that the government will be relentless in going after remaining POGO operations in the country after the December 31 deadline.

“Total ban na po tayo at definitely huhulihin namin 'yan whether sabihin nila na may permit sila sa [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.] o kaya sabihin nila na sila ay BPO — hindi po mangyayari yun, talagang huhulihin na namin kayo come January.”

(It will be a total ban and we will definitely raid them even if they say they have a permit from Pagcor or that they are a BPO — we will not allow that, we will definitely make arrests come January)

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