Malacañang confirmed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s decision to prohibit all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) played a major role in the Philippines’ removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized that the POGO ban significantly contributed to the FATF’s positive assessment.
“Opo, napakalaking pong naging factor ito (POGO ban) para makita ng FATF ‘yung improvement,” Castro said.
She added that Executive Order No. 33, signed in 2023, further demonstrated the country’s commitment to addressing the FATF’s recommendations, particularly in strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures.
“Talaga pong inutos ni Pangulong Marcos na dapat maiayos lahat, kung anuman ang rekomendasyon, lahat ng dapat na gawin ay gawin para po matanggal tayo sa grey list kasi malaking pong bagay ito lalong-lalo na sa mga OFWs at sa mga investors,” Castro added.
The FATF officially removed the Philippines from its grey list after a successful onsite visit last January. The country was first added to the list in 2021 after international watchdogs flagged several issues, including lapses in regulating POGO-related gambling operations and delays in enforcing the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Malacañang credits the series of reforms and strong government actions under Marcos’ leadership for restoring the country’s standing, which is expected to boost investor confidence and benefit overseas Filipino workers.
