Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called on government agencies tackling crimes related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to strengthen their collaborative efforts.
As reported by the Philippine News Agency, Gatchalian urged the Philippine National Police, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and other relevant bodies to work closely with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to develop a unified approach to eliminate POGO-linked crimes.
Gatchalian warned that insufficient cooperation among these agencies could hinder efforts to address POGO-related issues, allowing these operations to exploit regulatory gaps. His comments came after an anti-POGO raid at the Century Peak Tower in Ermita, Manila, on October 29th, which PAOCC criticized as “flawed” for releasing foreign suspects without consulting them.
“We cannot let illegal POGO activities continue in our communities due to a lack of coordination,” Gatchalian stated.
In his State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared an impending ban on all POGOs, directing PAGCOR to cease their operations by the end of the year.
The PAOCC also reported that 111 illegal POGO sites are still operating nationwide, emphasizing the need for a concerted response.