Philippine President to Ban POGOs Amid Crime and Scandal

Philippine President Set to Ban POGOs Amid Scandal and Criminal Allegations

Pervasive crime and scandals in the POGO industry have sparked outrage in the Philippines. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is now preparing an executive order to permanently ban offshore gaming operations in the country. This decisive move aims to dismantle an industry mired in allegations of human trafficking, fraud, and other serious crimes. Discover how this sweeping ban will reshape the landscape of gambling in the Philippines.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is on the verge of signing an executive order that will permanently ban Philippines Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs). This action follows mounting public outrage and widespread reports of criminal activities tied to these offshore gambling operators. Introduced in 2016 under former president Rodrigo Duterte, POGOs were initially designed to offer online gaming services to players outside the Philippines, particularly in mainland China. However, the industry has since been marred by scandals involving human trafficking, forced labor, and financial fraud.

In recent months, the gravity of the situation has intensified. A series of raids on POGO facilities in Pampanga and Tarlac exposed horrifying conditions, with hundreds of local and foreign workers freed from what authorities described as exploitative environments. These operations uncovered a range of abuses, including trafficking, prostitution, and torture, shaking public confidence in the industry.

The situation escalated when authorities discovered that Alice Guo, the mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, was actually a Chinese national with ties to organized crime. Guo, who was allegedly financing the POGO operations with Chinese funds, is now suspected of links to Chinese triads. These revelations further fueled the call for a complete ban on POGOs, which President Marcos announced in his State of the Nation Address on July 22.

“Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” Marcos declared. He condemned the industry’s descent into criminality, stating, “The operations have ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming—financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, and even murder. This grave abuse and disrespect for our laws must stop.”

To enforce the crackdown, Marcos has given licensed operators until the end of the year to wind down their businesses. Meanwhile, he is preparing an executive order that will formalize the total ban, expected to be signed by the end of the month, according to Gilbert Cruz, head of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

However, the ban alone may not be sufficient to eliminate POGOs. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, a vocal critic of the industry, is advocating for legislation that would ensure POGOs cannot re-emerge under future administrations. Gatchalian’s proposed law aims to clearly define POGO activities and prevent any form of re-entry into the Philippine market.

Amid these regulatory shifts, disturbing rumors have surfaced about possible mass graves at POGO sites, prompting further investigations. The PAOCC is currently seeking a search warrant for the Lucky South 99 POGO in Porac, Pampanga, where a mass burial site is allegedly located.

The impending ban on POGOs reflects President Marcos’ commitment to eradicating criminal activities linked to the offshore gaming industry. While the executive order marks a critical step towards restoring law and order, the ongoing investigations and calls for stricter legislation suggest that the battle against illegal gambling operations in the Philippines is far from over. As the nation watches closely, the government’s actions will be pivotal in shaping the future of gambling regulation and protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation.