Philippine government agencies are strengthening interagency coordination to combat illegal online gambling and digital organized crime.
As reported by the Philippine News Agency, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Monday formalized a partnership with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) to intensify efforts against illicit online gambling operations and other cyber-enabled criminal activities.
Under the collaboration, the CICC will support the PAOCC – the country’s lead body for investigating and prosecuting organized crime – by preparing comprehensive case files to support investigations and legal action against criminal groups. The agency will also conduct digital forensics work and spearhead efforts to block illegal gambling websites and online content linked to organized crime networks.
Authorities said the partnership signals a broader push to dismantle illegal online gambling activity in the country’s digital space. Officials have noted that organized criminal groups have increasingly used online platforms to run illicit gambling services and related cybercrime activities.
The partnership with the PAOCC is part of a wider government coordination framework aimed at addressing illegal online gambling, in the wake of the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
The CICC has also established joint initiatives with several agencies and organizations, including the Philippine National Police–Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and the civil society group Digital Pinoys; to strengthen enforcement against illegal gambling operators and their online promoters.
Earlier this month, the CICC also launched a joint initiative with Digital Pinoys to document and verify illegal gambling websites, applications, and promotional networks over a one-month period. Findings from the initiative have been submitted to the PNP-ACG, with suspects expected to face charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 as well as other potential offenses, including syndicated estafa.
