CEBU, Philippines — Following national directives for Local Government Units (LGUs) to submit a certification of "No POGO", Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said that he is 90% confident that there are no Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGO)-like activities in Cebu City and 100% sure that no POGO is operating in the city.
In a press conference yesterday, Garcia expressed his willingness to comply with the directives of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla requiring LGUs to submit “No POGO” certificates in their localities by the end of the month.
To do this, Garcia said he will first call for a coordination meeting.
“Of course, we will comply, but before that, if you look at this (memorandum), it will also encourage us to call for a coordination meeting,” said Garcia.
He said he will meet with law enforcement agencies, including the police and the National Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) to conduct inspections and issue a certification addressed to the mayor.
He added that this certification will also serve as the basis for issuing a certification now addressed to the DILG.
Garcia is confident that there are no POGO activities in Cebu City based on BPLO records. He said when the president made his announcement that POGOs have to go by end of 2024, they immediately conducted inspections to crack down on POGO and POGO-like activities.
He said that the coordination meeting is just to ensure the absence of such activities in the city, adding that the city has enough time to do so.
“Illegal POGO, wa na g’yud. Hundred percent, pero POGO-like activities, underground man na sila di g’yud makit-an but based on among leads pud, tingali I would say 90%,” said Garcia when asked to rate his confidence.
It was reported that in his Memorandum Circular 2025-001 issued last January 2 addressed to all DILG regional directors, governors, mayors, and barangay captains, Remulla said that LGUs should ensure the non-renewal of all business permits and licenses for POGOs and all Internet Gaming Licenses (IGLs).
He added that LGUs should report to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and DILG field officers any business entity involved in POGOs, IGLs, or offshore gaming operations or services, despite the implementation of Executive Order 74, which enforces a total ban on POGOs in the country.
Garcia previously said that a task force to monitor POGO and POGO-like activities had already been formed in Cebu City, composed of the police and members of the BPLO after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s announcement to immediately stop such operations in the country during his State of the Nation Address last July 22, 2024.
Last July 29, 2024, Garcia announced that a task force to crack down on POGO and POGO-like activities will be organized in Cebu City following the president’s order.
He added that the task force found that some operations have already been shut down and have since shifted to other types of businesses.
In his marching orders to Cebu City Police Office director Police Colonel Antonietto Cañete, Garcia said the task force should be composed of members of the local police and the BPLO.
Based on information from Garcia and data provided by the Cebu City BPLO, which registers at least 40,000 establishments in Cebu City, there are currently no active or legal POGO operators within the city. — (FREEMAN)