The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced on Wednesday that by Sunday, 15 December, all licenses related to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in the country will be revoked.
In a press briefing at Malacañang Palace, PAGCOR said licensees have cooperated with Philippine authorities following President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s order to shut down POGO operations by year-end.
“They are slowly complying and requesting the cancellation of their respective licenses,” PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco said.
He added that POGO operators are also submitting “parallel” cancellation requests with the Bureau of Immigration, downgrading their visas to tourist visas.
Tengco assured that by 1 January 2025, the Philippines will be POGO-free, including operations with Internet Gaming Licenses (IGL).
“There will be no one with a license as of January 1, 2025. So, if there are still those who say that they will continue to make a living or operate because they have a valid PAGCOR license, that is not true because it is clear that by December 31, 2024, PAGCOR will have canceled everything,” he stressed.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is continuing its crackdown on rogue POGO operations across the country.
According to PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz, former POGO workers have established small-scale illegal operations outside Metro Manila. He added that they can operate from hotel rooms, apartments, and small living quarters because POGO only requires an internet connection.
“Right now, we have people working in four areas – one in Mimaropa; two in Region IV-B; one at a resort owned by an official here in the north,” he said.
PAOCC said the agency is coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), PAGCOR, and local government units.
The DILG will be issuing an Executive Order requiring local chief executives to submit reports of suspicious activities within their localities and possible POGO setups.
“This will be seen in the sudden spike in bandwidth use, entry of suspicious people congregating in houses not registered as businesses, and the movement of foreigners who want to set up operations that are not known. So, they are enjoined to report immediately to us so that we can find out and take action,” said DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
POGO closure’s effect on the economy
While PAGCOR earlier noted that the closure of POGO operations will result in an estimated loss of P20 to P25 billion in revenue, the DILG said it will not make a “significant” dent in the country’s overall economy.
“As per NEDA, 0.25% of total GDP will be affected by this. We don’t see a significant dent in our economy. I think other revenue and refinancing measures of the Department of Finance will make up most of the loss,” Remulla said.
The DILG, for its part, will investigate cases of alleged involvement of local chief executives in local POGO operations within their areas.
“If we see that they are connected in any way to their protection [of POGO], they really have liability, gross negligence, and one of them acts against the interest of the Filipino people, so they are liable to the Ombudsman. But of course, we cannot accuse anyone right away. But we will expect them to report immediately to us,” Remulla noted.
Remulla shared that under his predecessor, Benhur Abalos, he received a list containing 28 names identifying local chief executives with POGO operations within their respective localities, which the PAOCC is investigating.
On 15 December, Remulla will personally lead the closure of the POGO hub in Island Cove in Kawit, Cavite. It was formerly owned by the Remulla family and was sold in 2018.