MANILA, Philippines — A total of 41 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators have expressed their intent to cease operations by the end of 2024, in compliance with President Marcos’ directive to ban all POGOs in the country.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed on Thursday that the 41 licensed POGOs under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) have agreed to halt operations.
Their move comes following the President’s order during his third State of the Nation Address last July, where he firmly called for the banning of POGOs.
The DOJ is part of the newly formed Task Force POGO Closure, which met for the first time on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of the shutdown of POGOs.
The task force also includes PAGCOR, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Bureau of Immigration.
The agencies’ newly formed task force aims to ensure the POGO ban is carried out without sacrificing the welfare of the workers affected.
The task force is expected to oversee the smooth implementation of the ban before the year ends, ensuring that all POGO-related activities are completely stopped by 2025.
PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco warned that while the initial closure of POGO operations is underway, the real challenge will come in 2025, when some operators may attempt to continue their illegal business operations.
“POGOs will try to employ dirty tactics to hide their illegal business,” he said.
The DOJ has also set a deadline of Oct. 15 for foreign workers employed by POGOs to voluntarily leave the country.
All pre-arranged employment visas or 9G visas held by foreign POGO workers will be downgraded to tourist visas by Oct. 16, giving them 60 days to leave the Philippines. Non-compliance will lead to involuntary repatriation.
Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez stressed the importance of a streamlined and systematic approach in implementing the POGO ban.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing the law.
“The harm and danger fueled by illegal POGO activities have undeniably placed public safety and national security at risk for quite some time, and justice will never take these matters sitting down,” he said.
“With the President’s guidance, we can now unleash the full consequences of the law against these undesirable elements of society” he stressed.