Marcos wants remaining POGOs, illegal contraband gone

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants an end to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and other illegal activities within the country’s territory, according to the Palace on Tuesday.

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio recently stated that some POGO operations have continued despite Marcos banning the practice in 2024. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that if POGOs are still operating, then the PAOCC and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will continue to act on it.

“Ang utos ng Pangulo patungkol dito sugpuin ang kontrabando. Kung anuman ang ilegal na ginagawa sa teritoryo ng Pilipinas dapat itong hanapin, papanagutin at huwag titigil hangga’t hindi nauubos ang mga activities na ginagawa ng mga gumagawa ng ganitong klaseng krimen,” Castro said in a media briefing.

(The President ordered that this contraband should stop. Whatever illegal activities are being done within the Philippines should be found out, held to account, and there is no stopping until these activities being done by perpetrators have all gone.)

Castro said that police have already raided several illegal POGO hubs, citing separate operations on October 2 in Zamboanga Sibugay, and another one last October 18 in Makati City.

Asked about Casio’s suggestion to review the visa-free arrangement for Chinese nationals, the Palace official said the matter has been raised to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“So, titingnan din po nila kung ano ang nagiging issue or nagkakaroon ba ito nang hindi magandang epekto,” Castro said.

(So, they will see what the issue is or if it has had some bad effects.)

Prior to its banning in 2024, POGOs have been linked to various illegal activities within the country by foreign nationals, with many of them being Chinese citizens. These crimes include human trafficking and the trade of illicit drugs. —RF, GMA News