THE Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) yesterday vowed to end all “guerilla-type” operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs within the year.
PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz made the statement barely a year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a total POGO ban during his State of the Nation Address on July 22 last year.
The President ordered the ban after many POGOs were linked to scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture and even murder.
Cruz said they have shut down a number of POGO hubs since the President’s order but could not immediately give figures.
He said around 4,000 foreign POGO workers, mostly Chinese, have been deported for being “undesirable aliens,” while a number of other foreigners, considered as offshore gaming “bosses,” are under detention and facing charges, including qualified human trafficking and money laundering.
Asked when they are aiming to end all the POGO operations, Cruz initially said: “It’s hard to tell.”
“For us, we want to end all of them within the year,” he later added.
Cruz said the target is feasible since “everyone is onboard,” including local government units.
Cruz said POGOs have turned to guerrilla-type operations after the President ordered the ban.
Asked how many POGO hubs are estimated to be operating, Cruz said: “Maybe less than a hundred. These are small-scale (POGOs), they’re already less than a hundred.”
Cruz said many of these guerrilla-type POGOs are still headed by foreigners.
However, he said POGO bosses are no longer going to the buildings or offices to lead the operations.
“Now, they do it remotely. They can monitor the operation through maybe a laptop or through table computer,” he said.
