In a landmark announcement delivered during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos has officially put an end to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), heeding the calls of various sectors that criticized the industry, which was linked to many crimes.
“I hereby instruct PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) to wind down and cease operations of POGOs by the end of the year,” Mr. Marcos proclaimed on Monday, directing relevant government agencies to take swift action.
Addressing the nation in both English and Filipino, the President emphasized the urgency of this decision, citing the rampant crimes and abuses as exposed by government agencies that conducted a series of raids in POGOs over the past few months.
“Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder,” the President stated.
Mr. Marcos underscored the negative impact that POGO operations have on the country’s legal and social systems. “The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop. Effective today (July 22), all POGOs are banned,” he declared, receiving loud cheers and applause from the audience.
Acknowledging the economic implications of this decision, Mr. Marcos tasked the Department of Labor Employment (DOLE) to work with the country’s economic managers and find new jobs for Filipinos, who will be affected by this development.
According to published data, there are an estimated 25,064 Filipinos employed by POGO firms across the country; some 22,915 are foreigners, a number of whom are from China. DOLE has earlier acknowledged that these numbers have increased compared to 2022 figures.
“To solve all the problems that we have been suffering under, all officials—law enforcers, workers in government—and most of all, the citizenry, must always be vigilant, principled and think of the health of the nation,” the President stated.
Mr. Marcos understood that banning POGOs would not solve all of the country’s present challenges, but he could not turn a blind eye on the negative consequences. He ended his speech with a quote attributed to English philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill in 1867:
“Let not anyone pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part and forms no opinions. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends than that good men look on and do nothing,” the President said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Marcos bans all POGOS effective today, July 22
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