Breaking: Marcos bans POGO in the Philippines
Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos just banned POGO operations in the country.
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| Photo from Presidential Communications Office |
POGO is now banned in the Philippines
According to the post by the Presidential Communications Office, Marcos said during the 2024 State of the Nation Address that effective today July 22, 2024, all POGOs are banned in the Philippines.
I hereby instruct PAGCOR to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year, resident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos
To recap, POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) are online gambling firms that operate in the Philippines catering to customers outside of the country. To operate legally, they must get licensing from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
However, the POGO industry has been heavily criticized for being a symbol of state-backed Chinese investments in the country. POGOs have also been linked to several criminal activities and most individuals involved were Chinese nationals.
There were documented reports allegedly involving POCOs with cybercrimes and even surveillance activities.
Based on the report by Philstar.com, the president called POGOs a grave abuse of Philippine law. Marcos also said that they are disguising as legitimate entities that have ventured into illicit areas such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, and murder.
The latest POGO controversy involves suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Leal Guo over her alleged connections with POGO activities in her municipality.
Netizens have lauded the move by Marcos.
One netizen claimed,
Banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) is a positive step for the lives of the Filipino people. This move prioritizes public safety by reducing crime rates and illegal activities often associated with these operations. It also fosters a healthier society by mitigating gambling addiction and its associated social problems. By closing POGOs, we protect our communities, enhance public safety & national security, and pave the way for a brighter future for all Filipinos, Alah-tog Bhyrone
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