The government will run down underground Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla vowed on Wednesday.

“Guerrilla (POGO) operations will (still) flourish but we will go after them,” Remulla told a press briefing in Malacañang when asked if the Philippines will be POGO-free by 2025.

According to Remulla, the DILG together with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) will ensure that all underground POGO activities will be pursued.

He said they will issue an executive order requiring all local chief executives to submit a report regarding any suspicious activities within their localities, including possible movement or setup of POGO.

“Malalaman ‘yan sa spike bigla ng bandwidth use, entry of suspicious people, congregating in houses not registered as businesses. Makikita ‘yan sa movement ng mga foreigners na gusto mag-setup diyan na hindi naman kilala. So they are enjoined to report immediately sa amin para malaman namin at makagawa kami ng aksyon,” Remulla said.

“Kami po ng PAOCC ay magkasama. Jointly namin tutugisin lahat ng mga ‘yan hanggang matapos lahat,” he added.

In the same briefing, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced that by December 15, licenses of remaining POGOs will be revoked.

In his third State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared a ban against all POGO operations in the country. He said POGOs have “ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder.” | PND