Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday urged local government units (LGUs) to beef up their inspection to ensure the complete eradication of remaining Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.
“Mensahe ito sa lahat ng LCE [local chief executives], husayan n’yo trabaho, siguraduhin n’yong inspeksyunin n’yo lahat ng mga building. Kayo rin ang mananagot kung mahuli namin na pinasok n’yo mga building at hindi kayo nag-report sa amin,” Remulla said, according to a press release issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday.
(This is a message to all LCEs: Do a good jo, make sure to inspect all buildings. You will be held liable if we find out that you entered a building and did not report it to us.)
Remulla issued the warning after authorities raided a facility in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City on Wednesday, January 8, which the National Bureau of Investigation said was being used in love and investment scams.
Over 400 individuals working in the said hub were taken into custody. They were mostly Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Myanmar nationals.
“Full operation eh, 400 plus, so susulat kami sa LGU, hihingi kami ng paliwanag kung ano talaga ang nangyari,” Remulla said.
(It was a full operation, with 400 plus [personnel]. So we will write to the LGU and ask for an explanation as to what happened.)
Remulla issued a memo on January 2 ordering LGUs to regularly inspect business establishments to make sure POGOs are not operating in their areas of authority.
He also directed LGUs to coordinate with the Philippine National Police regarding hidden POGO operations.
LGUs were also directed to submit a “no POGO” certificate by the end of January 2025.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. banned all POGOs in the country in 2024.
In his 3rd State of the Nation Address last July 22, Marcos said POGOs had ventured into illicit areas such as scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and murder.
Executive Order No. 74, signed on Nov. 5, 2024, states that the ban on POGOs and internet gaming licenses shall encompass illegal offshore gaming operations, license applications, license renewals, and cessation of operations. —KG, GMA Integrated News
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