PAGCOR: Physical winding down of POGOs to start in October

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on Wednesday told senators that the process of winding down the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country will start next month. (Pexels Photo)

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on Wednesday told senators that the process of winding down the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country will start next month.

In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. banned all POGOs in the country and ordered PAGCOR to cease POGO operations by the end of the year, as well as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to help workers who will be displaced.

During the public hearing of the Committee on Games and Amusement, PAGCOR Chairperson Alejandro Tengco said the process will be immediately implemented after an executive order will be issued by President Marcos this month.

Tengco said it was agreed upon during an inter-agency meeting and another meeting with the licensees that the visas of foreigners working in POGOs will also be cancelled.

“Doon po ay inanunsyo na ng Bureau of Immigration na ang mga working visas ay kakanselahin na nila 59 days before December 31. Pagkatapos po nun ay wala na talagang visa (It was in the meeting when the Bureau of Immigration announced that they will cancel working visas 59 days before December 31. After that, there will be no more visas),” he said.

PAGCOR Offshore Gaming Licensing Department Assistant Vice President Jessa Mariz Fernandez said the cancellation of visas will be done by batches, which is expected to remove all POGOs in the country earlier than expected.

“Maaari pong mapaaga yung pag-alis ng ibang parts ng operations ng internet gaming licensees (The removal of some parts of the operations internet gaming licensees can be done earlier). Initially, there will be a voluntary of downgrading of visas then until a certain date, cancellation na po talaga ng visa yung gagawin nila (they will actually cancel all visas),” Fernandez said.

“Nakikita po namin na through that process, liliit na rin nang liliit yung operations nila bago mag-December 31, 2024 (We are expecting that through that process, their operations will gradually decrease before December 31, 2024),” she said.

However, Tengco said some POGOs have notified them that they will start minimizing their operations.

“Nabawasan na rin yung numero. Two months after the SONA, we have 46. Today po we only have 41. That means lima na po yung nawala doon na kinansela namin because of numerous violations (The number has also decreased. Two months after the SONA, we have 46. Today, we only have 41. That means five of those that we cancelled were gone because of numerous violations),” he said.

On the part of the DOLE, Undersecretary Felipe Egargo Jr. assured that they will help the 28,500 Filipinos who are expected to lose their jobs in POGOs.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has formed the Special Task Force Schemer to launch law enforcement intelligence operations aimed at dismantling the illegal activities and network of the POGOs.

“This task force is composed of CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group), ACG (Anti-Cybercrime Group), WCPC (Women and Children Protection Center), Anti-Crime Group, and the Intelligence Group,” Police Col. Jun Mark Lagare told the panel.

The public hearing is in response to the Senate Resolution No. 1083 which aims to ensure the proper implementation of President Marcos’ directive regarding the cessation of POGO operations.