THE recent raid of a company in Parañaque City suspected to be a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) prompted the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to call on local chief executives to help shut down remaining POGO sites that have gone underground.
“This is a message to all local chief executives (LCE): Do your job well and make sure to inspect all buildings. You will be held accountable if we catch you approving buildings without reporting to us,” DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said over the weekend.
In a memorandum issued on Jan. 2, the DILG directed all local government units (LGUs) to regularly inspect business establishments to ensure there are no clandestine POGOs.
The memo urged LGUs to collaborate with the Philippine National Police to identify and shut down any POGO in their areas.
The DILG requires LGUs to submit a “no POGO certificate” by the end of January. The certification will serve as proof that their areas are POGO-free.
On Jan. 8, a raid conducted by the Bureau of Immigration in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque, led to the detention of 400 individuals allegedly involved in online fraud.
Remulla stressed the need for accountability, stating that the DILG will require the Parañaque LGU to formally explain the presence of the clandestine establishment.
In his 2024 State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared an immediate ban on all POGO activities in the country.
The administration’s firm stance against POGOs is rooted in concerns over their alleged ties to criminal activities, including human trafficking and online fraud.
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