Hontiveros warns of POGO 'rebranding' after latest raid in Cebu

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday warned of the possible "rebranding" of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) following the recent raid on a gated compound in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

Responding to media queries, Hontiveros lamented that despite the ban that was announced by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA), the "underground operations" of POGOs continued.

"I am calling on our law enforcement agencies to step up para ipatupad ang total ban ni Presidente. Dapat hindi na maulit pa ang mga ganitong modus, kabilang na ang pagsulpot ng iba’t ibang 'rebranding' ng POGO," Hontiveros said.

"Andyan ang mga balitang magiging call center daw ang mga POGO, o itatago sila sa special economic zone, at iba pang mga hocus-pocus na hindi dapat mapahintulutan," she added.

(I am urging our law enforcement agencies to ensure the strict implementation of the President's total ban. We must prevent a repeat of such schemes, including the various "rebranding" of POGOs. There are reports that POGOs will supposedly operate as call centers or hide behind special economic zones, and other deceptive practices that should not be tolerated.)

Further, Hontiveros also said that the raid in Cebu, where some 150 foreigners from China, Indonesia, and Myanmar, emphasized the urgent need to enforce the newly signed Republic Act No. 12010 or the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA).

"These cunning scam hub operators are transnational. Sa mga hearing sa Senado, nabanggit na nabubuhay ang mga hubs na ito dahil sa forced labor ng mga biktima ng human trafficking, Pilipino man o dayuhan," she noted.

"Under AFASA this is economic sabotage. AFASA also has a provision that allows the use of seized assets for victim protection. It is time we set the law in motion," she said.

She then urged authorities to hold those behind these operations accountable.

"Dapat napapangalanan at mapanagot ang mga taong ginawa nang hanapbuhay ang panlalamang sa kapwa nila. To deter future scams, we must provide justice to the victims," she said.

(Those who make a living by taking advantage of others must be held accountable. To prevent future scams, we must ensure that justice is given to the victims.)

"Hindi tayo papayag na ginagawang headquarters ng mga scammer ang Pilipinas," she added.

(We won't allow the Philippines to be turned into a hub for scammers.)

In a separate statement, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who actively participated in the Senate investigation into the illegal POGOs, said that the presence of former POGO workers from Bamban and Porac at the recently raided POGO hub in Cebu "suggests that we may have only scratched the surface of the issue."

"A deeper probe is clearly necessary. Despite the President's clear directive for a total ban, some POGO operators and agents continue to flout the law by merely shifting their activities from one location to another," Gatchalian, who called for POGOs total ban before Marcos made the decision, said.

He also highlighted the need for stricter enforcement and more comprehensive measures to ensure that POGO operations are "permanently shut down."

"There must be a coordinated effort among law enforcement agencies, PAGCOR, and local government units to crack down on these illegal activities and ensure compliance with the government's directive. Maliwanag ang mensahe ng Pangulo: Dapat wala nang namamayagpag na POGO sa bansa," he said.

(The President's message is clear: There should be no more thriving POGO operations in the country.)

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July, announced the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to wind down and stop all operations by the end of the year.

A cost-benefit analysis by the Department of Finance (DOF) showed that the POGO industry had a net cost of P99.52 billion to the Philippines, equivalent to 0.41% of the country’s economy as of 2021. — DVM, GMA Integrated News