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Operatives of PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group process seized computers and cellphones used for alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operation in Almanza Uno in Las Pinas City on June 27, 2023. File 



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Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17657839071501765783904428.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Operatives of PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group process seized computers and cellphones used for alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operation in Almanza Uno in Las Pinas City on June 27, 2023. File "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Operatives of PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group process seized computers and cellphones used for alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operation in Almanza Uno in Las Pinas City on June 27, 2023. <em>File</em> </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine National Police has ordered the intensified monitoring of coastal and border areas after reports that criminal syndicates are attempting to move illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator activities to neighboring countries.</p><p>Acting PNP chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed territorial and national support units to step up patrols, visibility, and intelligence operations along identified “backdoor routes” that may be exploited by organized crime groups.</p><p>Intelligence reports indicate that syndicates are using illicit travel routes to transfer operations and recruit victims, following the government’s crackdown on illegal offshore gaming, Nartatez said.</p><p>“These routes reportedly include sea passages from Palawan to Sabah, followed by overland travel through Malaysia, with final destinations believed to be in Myawaddy, Myanmar, or Phnom Penh, Cambodia,” he said in a statement.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/12/10/boardroom-tea-when-pogo-scam-farms-closed-hell-opened-elsewhere-2200">Boardroom Tea: When POGO scam farms closed, hell opened elsewhere</a></div><p>“We are working with the intelligence community and our foreign counterparts in relation to this information. But I have already instructed concerned police officers to intensify patrols along backdoor routes that may be exploited by syndicates to continue their illegal POGO operations,” he added.</p><p>Nartatez stressed that the PNP remains vigilant against the evolving tactics of organized crime groups, especially those linked to human trafficking, fraud, and other transnational crimes.</p><p>He said authorities are carefully validating reports on the alleged movements of syndicates, with intelligence units working to confirm details and identify those behind the schemes.</p><p>Nartatez also assured that the PNP will strengthen coordination with foreign law enforcement agencies to verify possible POGO-linked activities abroad and to prevent Filipinos from falling victim to transnational syndicates.</p><p>The heightened security measures come after the enactment of Republic Act No. 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, which formally declares offshore gaming operations illegal and reinforces the government’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks associated with the industry.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</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/2y3YS50wb8I?&amp;t=11s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine National Police has ordered the intensified monitoring of coastal and border areas after reports that criminal syndicates are attempting to move illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator activities to neighboring countries.</p>

The Philippine National Police has ordered the intensified monitoring of coastal and border areas after reports that criminal syndicates are attempting to move illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator activities to neighboring countries.

PNP orders tighter patrols vs 'backdoor routes' after reports of POGO shift abroad

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PNP orders tighter patrols vs 'backdoor routes' after reports of POGO shift abroad

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 15, 2025 03:52 PM PHT

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