President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a nationwide ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) during his third State of the Nation Address, citing their involvement in various criminal activities.
“Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” announced Marcos, which was met with applause and chants of “BBM! BBM!” from the members of Congress.
Marcos emphasized the detrimental impact of POGOs, saying, “Disguising as legitimate entities, their activities have ventured into illicit areas, furthest from gaming, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, and murder.”
The president criticized POGOs as a severe abuse of Philippine law and ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to cease their operations by the end of the year.
“I hereby instruct PAGCOR to wind down and cease the operation of POGOs by the end of the year,” he stated, receiving widespread approval from the audience.
Additionally, Marcos directed the Department of Labor and Employment to assist in finding new employment for Filipinos affected by the ban.
POGOs have been linked to numerous criminal activities, including human trafficking, prostitution, and torture, uncovered through various raids. Recent pressure on Marcos to ban POGOs has increased, following a Senate investigation exposing issues like the sale of fake birth certificates to foreign nationals and the suspension of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo on suspicion of being a Chinese spy.
Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, and Aquilino Pimentel III have all urged Marcos to take this action. Both the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic and Development Authority have supported the ban, with the DOF highlighting that the continued presence of POGOs is costing the Philippines approximately P99.5 billion annually.
