PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil to keep a close watch on banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) companies that may go underground and break into small groups now that they are completely prohibited from operating nationwide.

According to PNP spokesperson, Brigadier Gen. Jean S. Fajardo, the Commander-in-Chief told the PNP last week to ensure that they will be fully monitoring and going after former POGO/Internet Gaming Licensees that may use legitimate Business Process Outsourcing or BPO companies as a ‘cover’ for their illicit business.

“He wants us to fully monitor these banned POGO operators with the help of local government units since he believes that POGOs won’t proliferate without the knowledge of LGUs,” Brig. Gen. Fajardo said.

Gen. Marbil said they will be fully implementing President Marcos Jr.’s order completely banning all POGOs and all associated offshore gaming activities nationwide.

The PNP is also prepared to intensify law enforcement operations and collaborate closely with relevant government agencies to ensure the effective implementation of Executive Order No. 74 recently signed by the Chief Executive.

“This decisive measure is in alignment with our commitment to enhancing national security, maintaining public order, and protecting our communities from the adverse impacts linked to POGO operations, including rising crime rates, social instability and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals,” she said in a statement following the presidential order.

The official said their dedicated PNP Task Force Skimmer, which was specifically established to address POGO-related activities, “will spearhead efforts to dismantle illegal operations and ensure compliance with the Executive Order.”

The PNP leadership also mustered the support of the citizenry in their effort to fully implement the presidential directive.

The PNP and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission are monitoring the presence of POGO companies believed to have gone underground and planning to transfer to remote parts of the country where they cannot be easily detected, the Journal Group learned.

A PNP official said that it is very possible that illegal POGO operators will be using their unscrupulous connections in the government and some law enforcement agencies anew to go underground in far-flung parts of the Philippines in the guise of building Information Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) companies that will provide livelihood to local folks.

Another possibility is that guerrilla POGO operators will try to move their former employees to remote parts of the country where they could build POGO establishments like those discovered in some parts of Metro Manila and Pampanga, Tarlac and Cebu.

The monitoring was ordered even as Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla said he will require all local chief executives, particularly governors and mayors, to report any possible resurgence of POGO activities in their areas following the total ban on their operations starting 2025.

The DILG chief admitted that illegal POGO activities may persist even after the December 15 deadline imposed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the phaseout of all forms of offshore gaming activities nationwide.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon