The crackdown on Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the Philippines continues, but a troubling new development is complicating matters.
Local and national authorities in the Philippines are now facing an “alarming trend” of guerrilla scam operations taking over the void left by POGOs. These illicit activities, harder to detect and regulate, are raising new challenges for law enforcement and regulatory bodies.
Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla recently urged local government units (LGUs) to intensify inspections of businesses even after issuing occupancy permits. He warned that illegal POGOs are disguising their operations as legitimate establishments, such as resorts and restaurants, to evade detection ahead of the government-mandated deadline to cease operations (December 31st).
Citing a recent incident in Lapu-Lapu City, where a POGO hub posing as a hotel and restaurant was raided, Remulla emphasized the need for vigilance. “It is really up to the mayors to ensure that what the establishments claim to be is what they truly are,” he stressed. For unauthorized scam hubs operating without permits, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are tasked with enforcement.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the outright ban of POGOs during his State of the Nation Address in July, mandating PAGCOR to wind down all operations by the end of the year. However, Senator Risa Hontiveros has highlighted a disturbing shift: scam operations are now replacing POGOs.

Speaking during Senate budget debates, Hontiveros noted that these new schemes no longer use POGOs as a regulatory shield, making them more difficult to identify. She specifically asked the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) how its Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) plans to address the issue.
The CICC, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, has already apprehended 11 scam hubs linked to both legal and illegal operations. He credited the center’s cooperation with the PNP and NBI, alongside the use of advanced technology and public hotlines, for these successes. Still, the DICT has opted to keep its detection methods confidential, requesting an executive session to delve into its strategies.
Despite these efforts, the emergence of guerrilla scam hubs underscores the challenges of enforcing the POGO ban. Hontiveros has expressed concern that these operations could escalate if left unchecked, potentially leading to greater harm to consumers and local communities.

As the December deadline looms, both local and national authorities are doubling down on efforts to shut down illegal gambling and related scams. The crackdown is part of a broader push to restore public trust and eliminate the social and economic harms associated with POGOs and their successors.
For LGUs, the directive is clear: increased inspections and stricter compliance checks. Meanwhile, national agencies like the CICC, PNP, and NBI are leveraging technology to root out these elusive operations. With President Marcos’ administration maintaining a firm stance on the POGO ban, the hope is that these coordinated efforts will prevent the rise of new illicit schemes and ensure a safer digital landscape for Filipinos.