PAOCC: Big POGOs relocating to Visayas, Mindanao in smaller groups

Some big Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) are breaking down into smaller groups, rebranding it as business process outsourcing and  relocating in the Visayas and Mindanao, an official of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission said on Tuesday.

PAOCC Director Winnie Quidato disclosed this during the last hearing of the Senate investigation into illegal POGOs.

"'Yung malalaki po na mga POGO companies that we have raided before or that were existing before, ang nakikita po namin sa kanila ngayon is nagbe-breakdown sila into smaller groups. Some are even branding themselves now as BPOs," Quidato told the Senate Committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros.

[The big POGO companies that we have raided before or that were existing before ... we are seeing that they've broken into smaller groups.]

"Pinapalitan na 'yung kanilang pangalan sa Securities and Exchange Commission, nagiging BPO na lang po," he added.

[They change their names at the Securities and Exchange Commission, turning themselves into BPOs.]

The POGOs that were operating in thousands before are now transformed into "guerilla groups" that are composed of 10 to 20 people, Quidato added.

The PAOCC official cited as an example the raid that they conducted in Parañaque City where the suspected POGO is operating in 45 houses within one subdivision.

"Dahil po sa active ang PAOCC dito po sa area ng Luzon area, we found that most of the POGOs are now in several areas [in the] Visayas and even in Mindanao, ma'am. Nandoon na po sila ngayon," Quidato shared.

[Because we are active in the Luzon area, we found that most of the POGOs are now in several areas [in the] Visayas and even in Mindanao. They're operating there.]

After the October 15 deadline for the POGO workers to voluntarily downgrade their visas, Quidato also shared that PAOCC has observed some of these foreign employees also relocating in the Visayas and Mindanao.

"Dapat sila ay nag-aasikaso na lang ng kanilang mga pamamaalam sa kanilang loved ones dito sa Pilipinas, nagbebenta ng kanilang condos o nag-aayos [ng] kanilang sasakyan, kanilang utang. Nakikita namin na yung iba naman lumilipat lang ng ibang lugar," he said.

[They should be attending to and saying their goodbyes to their loved ones here in the Philippines, selling their condos, attending to their vehicles, loans. We've monitored that some of them have relocated to various places.]

"Nakikita namin na maraming flights papunta sa Visayas area, doon po namin na namo-monitor yung ibang mga tao na dating nagtatrabaho sa POGO," he added.

[They are flying towards the Visayas area,  it is there where we are monitoring some former POGO workers are going.]

The PAOCC official said they will have a meeting on the implementation of the Executive Order No. 74 which provides for the total ban on POGOs and internet gaming licenses.

"Magkakaroon po kami ng meeting para po sa implementation ng EO-74. Doon po namin aayusin with other agencies on how we are going to do about the solving of these problems," he said.

[We will have a meeting on the implementation of EO 74. We will discuss with other agencies on how we are going to do about the solving of these problems.]

Rebranding

Meanwhile, SEC Assistant Director Jonathan Paguirigan said they are already in coordination with PAOCC with regard to the reported rebranding of POGOs to BPOs.

"With the advent of the executive order issued by the President, Madam Chair, we are actually taking steps to assure that those who are actually engaging in POGOs would be informed and to comply with the executive order," Paguirigan said.

"They should only act as BPOs, Madam Chair, but if they are still engaging in POGO activities, that would already be a violation of the executive order," he added.

Meanwhile, Hale Oliver M. Labayo of SEC's Company Registration and Monitoring Department said POGOs that are legally operating or those without criminal record before the ban could amend their registration documents to transform their corporation into a BPO.

"'Yung mga legitimate na POGOs, yung hindi naman sila na-revoke... they can still apply for an amendment. Punta po sa BPO po ma'am. Provided naman po ma'am, nagpalagay naman po kami ng colatilla na susunod po sila sa batas," he said.

[Those legitimate POGOs, those who were not revoked, they can still apply for an amendment. They can turn into a BPO. We have put a colatilla that they will follow the law.]

"In case na vi-niolate nila yung BPO, may consequence po yun Ma’am, magkakaroon po ng revocation proceedings dahil hindi na po nila sinunod yung kanilang primary purpose or other business purposes," he added.

[In case they will violate the BPO, it would have its consequences. There would be revocation proceedings because they didn't follow their primary purpose or other business purposes.]

— RSJ, GMA Integrated News