MANILA —President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced a ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), effective immediately, in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.
“Effective today, all POGOs are banned. I hereby instruct Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year,” Marcos said during his 2024 SONA.
The president cited the expansion of POGO operations into illicit activities, including financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and even murder.
Marcos highlighted the high-profile case of suspended Mayor Alice Guo and the alleged illegal activities at a raided POGO site in Bamban, Tarlac, where nearly 800 Filipinos and foreign nationals were rescued.
“The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop,” Marcos emphasized, stating that he has heard the voice of the Filipino people against the POGO issue.
In response to the affected workers, Marcos has assigned the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in coordination with economic managers, to prioritize finding new jobs for the citizens impacted by the POGO ban.
Furthermore, Marcos stressed the importance of vigilance, principles, and a focus on the nation’s well-being for all officials, law enforcers, government workers, and the citizenry to solve the problems the country has been suffering. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
