Dwayne Pelagio

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. finally took his stand in his State of the Nation Address by banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations through an executive order on Nov. 5.

Photos Courtesy of DILG/Presidential Communications Office.

The newly-approved Executive Order (EO) no. 74 will ban POGOs and internet gaming licenses shall encompass illegal offshore gaming operations, license applications, license renewals, and cessation of operations.

Marcos noted in the EO that the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) reported that “POGOs have been identified as susceptible to money laundering, fraud, and other illicit financial activities, and therefore pose substantial threats to the integrity of the national financial system.”

He also cited that the reputational risks associated with POGO and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) “deter foreign investment and tourism, undermining the efforts of the National Government in promoting the country as a safe and sustainable investment and tourism destination.”

The president ordered the creation of Technical Working Groups (TWG) to enforce the ban and to assist its displaced Filipino workers as law enforcement agencies were mandated to intensify their efforts against illegal POGOs/IGLs and other offshore gaming operations and services.

The TWGs are the Anti-Illegal Offshore Gaming Operations and Employment Recovery and Reintegration.

The two groups will be chaired by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and vice-chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development is tasked to assist the TWG on Anti-Illegal Offshore Gaming Operations in securing the cooperation of homeowners associations to ensure the non-proliferation of POGOs and IGL.

The Department of Tourism is also mandated to ensure that tourism establishments are not used for POGOs and IGL.

Police raids in Bamban, Tarlac on March 13, 2024 over reports of trafficking and torture of foreign nationals uncovered systems of illegal POGOs across the country.

 
Its mayor - Alice Guo, allegedly incorporated the real estate firm Baofu in 2019, which then leased the compound to POGOs.

At least 400 people of different nationalities were arrested in the raid and later deported.