POGOs a ‘national menace’ – think tank

MANILA, Philippines — International think tank Stratbase ADR Institute has welcomed the government’s efforts to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), which it described as a “national menace” that threatens the country’s sovereignty.

In a statement, Stratbase president Dindo Manhit expressed support for the Marcos administration’s decision to ban POGOs, internet gaming licensees and other offshore gaming operators.

“Far from contributing to economic progress, POGOs have fostered illicit activities that threaten our sovereignty, disrupt social order and tarnish the Philippines’ reputation as a trusted investment destination,” he said.

He added that POGOs may have promised economic stimulation for the country, but it instead “revealed systemic vulnerabilities, from governance failures to susceptibility to transnational crimes like human trafficking, money laundering and espionage activities.”

He emphasized that
POGOs are alarming as they are being linked to Chinese espionage operations, which allegedly exploit POGO networks “to gather intelligence, compromise sensitive infrastructure and undermine national security.”

“Such activities threaten the Philippines’ sovereignty and its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, making the elimination of POGOs a matter of urgent national interest,” he emphasized.

Stratbase cited a recent study by the United States Institute of Peace, which revealed that Southeast Asia has become a significant hub for transnational criminal networks originating from China.

Alvin Camba, one of the study’s authors, cited China’s strategic security interests in the Philippines as one of the reasons for POGOs’ existence in the Philippines.

“The presence of POGOs on the adjacent areas of military bases or in the offices of foreign institutions complicates efforts. It is unclear whether these are mere coincidences or something more. Moreover, the same infrastructure that supports POGOs could potentially be exploited for espionage or the creation of bots for disinformation campaigns,” he was quoted as saying in the statement issued by Stratbase.

Manhit highlighted that the POGO dilemma is not just a domestic issue but “a global phenomenon.”

“We at Stratbase fully support the government’s intensified efforts to dismantle these networks, expose the conniving behavior of authorities who prioritize personal gain over national welfare and hold all complicit individuals accountable,” he stressed.

President Marcos announced the ban on POGOs during his State of the Nation Address in July. He issued the executive order operationalizing the directive in November. The complete ban of their operations goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.