The Cebu government plans to expand its monitoring efforts to cover Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and similar activities in the area.
This initiative will involve scrutinizing e-games and internet-based entertainment hubs to ensure they are not being used as fronts for POGOs.
The move follows a raid last weekend, which uncovered an illegal POGO operation and led to the rescue of 162 foreign workers.
According to the Philippine News Agency, Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia stated at a press conference on Tuesday that the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) is collaborating with the Cebu City Police Office to inspect these e-games centers.
Garcia mentioned that while there is no guarantee that POGOs are not operating in the city, while inspections of call centers revealed that e-games and internet games are commonly found.
He added that the BPLO and local police discovered that internet gamers gather in certain venues, but these operations are not POGOs and their business registrations are legitimate.
The BPLO reported that no establishments are registered as POGOs by their operators. Garcia also noted that while computers are present at these venues, their operations are legal. The goal remains to ensure that no illegal activities, such as POGOs, are taking place.
