President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the authorities to go after Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) still conducting their illegal operations.

The directive follows the announcement by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) that all POGO and Internet Gaming Licenses (IGLs) in the country will be revoked by 15 December.

During the 2nd Joint National Peace and Order Council-Regional Peace and Order Councils meeting for 2024 at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Marcos ordered the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission, the Philippine National Police, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to intensify operations against POGOs that are still operating despite the ban he ordered.

He also urged local chief executives to coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to shut down illegal POGO operations in their areas.

“Local government units have the capability to identify suspicious illegal activities in their communities, especially those related to POGOs,” he said.

On Wednesday, PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco said licensees have been cooperating with the authorities, with some voluntarily requesting the cancellation of their PAGCOR licenses.

As of 29 November, PAGCOR had canceled 53,700 offshore gaming employment licenses, with 18 IGLs voluntarily canceling their licenses, and 27 IGLs in the process of winding down operations.

In his third State of the Nation Address, Marcos ordered a ban on all POGO operations in the country, setting a deadline of 31 December.