Authorities raid a BPO compound in Bagac, Bataan on October 31, 2024 alleged to be a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), following a search warrant for human trafficking violations. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA -- In line with Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to ban POGOs in the country during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Philippine government announced that all POGO and internet gaming licenses are cancelled by December 15. 

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro said out of the 60 PAGCOR-licensed POGOs in July, only seven remain as of today which are undergoing closure process. 

"Voluntary na po, dahan-dahan na pong sumusunod sila and requesting for the cancellation of their respective licenses," Tengco said in a Palace press briefing on Wednesday, Dec. 11. 

The PAGCOR official noted that the remaining POGOs are cooperating with the Bureau of Immigration in downgrading the working visas of their foreign workers to tourist visas.

Suspected POGO hub in Davao del Norte yields dozens of foreigners 

"Wala po namang pasaway dito po sa ating mga current licensees. Sila po ay cooperating both with PAGCOR and the Bureau of Immigration and also DOLE," he said. 

Interior and Local Government Sec. Jonvic Remulla noted that out of 6,732 POGO foreign workers still in the country, 5,731 have already applied for the visa downgrade while around a thousand has "no information" and "have not applied for anything". 

The DILG chief adds they will personally lead the closure of the POGO hub in Kawit, Cavite on December 15. 

"We will personally lead the closure of the POGO hub in Island Cove in Kawit, Cavite to show to the public that it is really closed and we will start with that and then PAOCC will coordinate the activities for the other registered POGOs so that the public may see and the press may see that all of them will be closed by December 15," Remulla said. 

"GUERILLA" OPS 

With the closure of licensed POGOs, authorities are expecting the surge of illegal ones. 

PAOCC Executive Director Usec. Gilbert Cruz said they expect around 100 "rogue" POGOs to flourish by January 2025.

DILG's Remulla says POGOs have gone 'guerilla' 

"Mga dating POGO workers 'yan na nagsama-sama tapos gumawa ng maliit na POGO hub o POGO operation sa isang bahay, pwedeng ito ay sa isang apartment, puwede sa isang resort, sa hotel," he said. 

"So, siguro by January we’ll be looking na mas maraming aksiyon ang mangyayari," the PAOCC exec added. 

For now, Cruz disclosed that they are working on four POGO operations -- three are located in Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) and one in Northern Luzon at a hotel allegedly owned by a government official and was reported by the LGU itself. 

"Ni-report po niya na mayroong papasok sa kaniya na grupo ng mga Chinese, about a thousand of Chinese, na dala-dala na iyong gamit nila. At inimbak na iyon sa isang lugar at pinasakay ng local government... Nagplano sila. So, nakuha na nila iyong mga gamit. Nandoon ngayon sa kanila. Ibig sabihin, talagang lumalayo na sila sa Metro Manila," he added. 

Authorities vowed to strengthen interagency cooperation to go after illegal operations of "scam centers". 

"Tingin ko mayroon naman kaming sapat na resources and of course iyong mga personnel ‘no. We have the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Immigration," Cruz said. 

"Two parts 'yan: all licenses are cancelled – so POGO-free tayo; guerilla operations will flourish but we will go after them... hindi na siya gaming center, gaming operations, kung hindi scam center na siya," Remulla said. 

The DILG chief also noted that as per Marcos Jr.'s instructions, they will "make it very difficult for them, until they say that it is no longer worth operating in the Philippines". 

Both the PAOCC and DILG also vowed to run after local government executives and police officers who will be proven in connivance with POGOs in its illegal operations. 

"We are not actually in the liberty to reveal iyong mga names kaagad-agad. But, nababasa naman po ninyo and we are really open, whenever we filed cases doon sa mga government officials na involved po at nalaman namin na kakutsaba nitong mga operators," Cruz noted. 

"Kung makita natin na connected sila in anyway sa protection nila, ay may liability talaga sila, gross negligence... but of course, we cannot go and accused, hindi naman puwedeng accusatory tayo kaagad. But we will expect and we will enjoined them to report it right away sa amin," Remulla added. 

NO 'SIGNIFICANT' LOSS 

The government stands to lose around P20-25 billion, according to Tengco. 

However, Remulla said this is nothing to worry about.

Finance department orders shutdown of tax-evading POGOs 

"As per NEDA, .25 of 1% of total GDP ang naapektuhan. We don’t see a significant dent sa economy natin. I think, mame-make up naman iyan sa mga iba pang mga revenue, refinancing measures ng Department of Finance," he said.

Tengco also reported that during their meeting with the president, the Labor and Trade and Industry departments will hold a joint caravan to provide jobs and livelihood to Filipino workers displaced by the POGO ban. 

"Sa pagdating po ng 2025, tuloy po na magkakaroon sila ng mga job caravans para po nga iyong mga ma-displace nating mga kababayan ay matulungan doon sa mga job matching caravans nila," he said.