Largest POGO hub closed in Cavite

After authorities closed the largest POGO hub in Kawit, Cavite, there are no more Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) .

In Jun Veneracion’s Tuesday report on 24 Oras, several government officials inspected the POGO hub in Cavite from its dormitory to its gaming areas before securing the property with a padlock.

It was built on a parcel of land owned by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s family, which was sold in 2017.

“As of last month, wala ng kuryente ang mga buildings dito. Pinatay na. So, makikita nyo naman wala ng signs of habitation dito. Wala ng signs of business,” Remulla said.

(As of last month, the buildings have no electricity. So, as you can see, there are no signs of habitation and business.)

“Sa umagang ito na sinara na po natin ito wala na pong hub na natitira dito sa ating bansa,” PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco said.

(On this day, when we shut it down, there are no more POGO hubs in our country.)

The operator is facing problems in dealing with the 30-hectare property and its 57 buildings.

The closure of all POGOs in the country is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s order that he first made during his most recent State of the Nation Address.

“Considering na hindi pa po namin tapos bayaran ang mga utang namin dito so we are open to any suggestions. But now, we just want to show everyone na sarado na ang island,” said Ron Lim, general manager of First Orient.

(Considering that we have yet to pay our debt, we are open to any suggestions. But now, we just want to show everyone that the island is closed.)

Due to the closure of the POGO hub at Island Cove in Cavite, 15,000 employees, mostly Filipinos, have lost their jobs.

In total, there are approximately 40,000 displaced workers as a result of the POGO ban.

Among them are vendor Annabelle’s three children and her son-in-law. She also stopped selling outside the POGO hub.

“Matagal na akong walang income. Ngayon, naghahanap ako ng pupwestuhan kung saan ako pwedeng magtinda,” Anabelle said.

(It’s been a while since I lost my livelihood. Now, I’m looking for other places where I can sell.)

However, the problem with POGOs is not over yet, as authorities are still receiving reports of small POGOs operating in secret.

“After ng January 1, you will see ang powerful ng gobyerno laban sa ganito. We will make sure na matutupad ang pangako ng pPangulo na walang POGO by January 1,” said Philippine National Police chief P/General Rommel Francisco Marbil.

(After January 1, you will see how powerful the government is against these illegal POGO operations. We will make sure to fulfill the President’s promise that  there will be no POGOs operating by January 1.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News