Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has urged local government units (LGUs) to strengthen their inspections to ensure the total elimination of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) across the country.
“This is a message to all local chief executives: Do your job well, inspect all buildings thoroughly. You will be held accountable if we find any building that you entered but failed to report,” Remulla warned in a press release from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday.
Crackdown in Parañaque
The directive follows a raid conducted on January 8 in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City, where authorities discovered a facility allegedly used for love and investment scams. Over 400 individuals, primarily Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Myanmar nationals, were detained.
“It was a full operation with over 400 personnel. We will send a letter to the LGU asking for an explanation about how this happened,” Remulla said.
LGU Compliance and Accountability
On January 2, the DILG issued a memorandum instructing LGUs to regularly inspect businesses and coordinate with the Philippine National Police to identify and shut down covert POGO operations. LGUs are required to submit a “no POGO” certificate by the end of January 2025.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. officially banned all POGOs in 2024, citing their involvement in various illicit activities, including:
- Scamming
- Money laundering
- Prostitution
- Human trafficking
- Kidnapping
- Torture
- Murder
Legal Basis for the Ban
Executive Order No. 74, signed on November 5, 2024, mandates the ban on POGOs and internet gaming licenses, covering illegal offshore gaming operations, license applications, renewals, and cessation of operations.
This decisive move follows Marcos’ condemnation of POGOs in his 3rd State of the Nation Address last July 22, where he emphasized their link to organized crime.
As the government intensifies its campaign, LGUs face increasing pressure to enforce the policy and ensure compliance within their jurisdictions.