Manila: The government vowed to take swift and decisive action against any resurgence of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs). This follows the concerns raised by Senator Risa Hontiveros about the potential revival of POGOs, which she said have morphed into other scam operations.
According to Philippines News Agency, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro assured the public in a Malaca±ang press briefing that the government would coordinate with relevant law enforcement agencies to target illegal POGOs. "Makakaasa po kayo ng mabilisang aksyon dito (You can expect a swift action on this)," Castro stated. She also emphasized that local government officials could be held liable for issuing permits to POGOs without proper documentation.
In July 2024, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. responded to mounting calls to ban POGOs, which had been linked to serious issues including human trafficking, prostitution, and murder. He ordered an immediate halt to operations, with a complete phase-out scheduled by December 31, 2024. Castro also addressed concerns regarding the proliferation of text scams, suggesting the possibility of revisiting the SIM Card Registration Act. She proposed that SIM card registration should be conducted face-to-face to prevent fraudulent activities related to SIM card sales.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, urged law enforcement agencies to aggressively pursue and dismantle POGO-linked crime groups. In a statement, Barbers highlighted the recent kidnapping of a foreign student as a "chilling reminder" of the brutal tactics employed by criminal syndicates operating in the Philippines. He warned that POGOs are fueling heinous crimes, including money laundering, espionage, cyber hacking, wiretapping, murder, kidnapping, rape, prostitution, and torture.
Barbers vowed to support law enforcement in dismantling these criminal enterprises and advocated for stronger policies to protect communities. "We owe it to the people to end these threats once and for all," he stated.
