President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed law enforcement and anti-corruption entities Thursday to carry out smaller but multiple operations against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) that continue to exist in the country.

President Marcos issued the directive during the 2nd Joint National Peace and Order Council (NPOC)-Regional Peace and Order Councils (RPOCs) meeting for 2024 in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The President wants the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to intensify their operations against POGOs that are still operating despite the ban.

He also asked the local chief executives to coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in going after POGOs in their respective jurisdictions.

Local government units (LGUs) have the capability to determine suspicious illegal activities in their communities, especially those concerning POGOs, he said.

As of November 29 this year, there were 53,700 cancelled offshore gaming employment licenses; 18 IGLs voluntarily cancelling their licenses; and 27 IGLs in the process of winding down their operations.

Suspicious illegal activities, especially those concerning POGOs, should be monitored by the LGUs, the President said. The DILG should step up gathering substantial intelligence from local communities.

In his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, President Marcos banned all POGOs in the Philippines, stressing “the grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop.” |PND