The Philippines government has admitted it expects to see an influx of rogue POGO operations across the country even as it prepares for an official ban on the offshore gaming industry to come into effect.
In comments to local media on Wednesday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla described the Philippines as “POGO free” given the cancellation of all licenses but added, “Guerrilla operations will flourish … but we will go after them.”
Remulla’s comments come after PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco revealed earlier this week that only seven licensed POGOs have yet to fully cease operations, down from 60 when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr first announced the ban in July.
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOOC) Executive Director Gilbert Cruz has also warned of the threat of undergroiund POGO operations flourishing, adding, “Those who will dare to operate, they will be arrested.”
According to Philippine News Agency, Remulla, Tengco and Cruz all met with President Marcos at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday morning to discuss the winding down of POGOs.
On the issue of illegal POGOs, Remulla said, “The way we see it, they are easy to detect, and they are easy to stop. According to the President’s instruction, we will make it very difficult for them until they say, ‘It is not worth operating in the Philippines.”
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