SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian is batting for additional intelligence funds for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to boost its efforts in shutting down Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) which continue to defy the total ban ordered by President Marcos Jr.
Gatchalian said law enforcement agencies, especially the PNP, need to double their efforts in closing down POGOs, and particularly close in on firms involved in illegal activities such as kidnap-for-ransom, human trafficking, and online scamming.
Data provided by the police has pegged POGO-related crimes at around 5,800 as of May this year.
Gatchalian is pushing for additional funding for the PNP as he noted the decrease in the agency’s intelligence funds from P1.356 billion in 2023 to P906.025 million for this year. Under the Executive’s proposed National Expenditure Program for 2025, the PNP got an allotment of P806.025 million, which the Senate increased by P100 million under its version.
“This is the time to support the PNP in gathering more intelligence. The reduction is counter-intuitive on what we want to do,” he said but did not state a specific amount add to the PNP intelligence fund.
The President, during his State-of-the Nation Address last July, ordered the immediate closure of all POGO hubs due to the crimes associated with their operations.
Early this month, Marcos issued Executive Order No. 74 directing the PNP to intensify its efforts against illegal POGOs, internet gaming licensees, and other offshore gaming operations and services especially those which masquerade as legitimate business processing outsourcing centers.
