Monday, February 17, 2025

Philippines Senate Minority Leader warns government: stop helping illegal POGOs

A Senator in the Philippines has accused certain government officials of aiding individuals behind the now-prohibited Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), helping them circumvent the ban by adopting deceptive strategies.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who spearheaded Senate inquiries into POGOs’ alleged links to organized crime, revealed on Thursday that reports had surfaced about officials advising illegal POGO operators on how to conceal their ongoing operations.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla had earlier confirmed that some POGOs were defying the ban by disguising themselves as restaurants and resorts. Hontiveros warned that others were taking it a step further, pretending to operate as legitimate business process outsourcing (BPO) firms.

“POGOs are still operating, and they are getting more creative. They are finding ways to change or conceal their identity,” Hontiveros said during a Senate forum. “We received reports that some government officials were the ones giving them such advice.”

According to Hontiveros, these officials allegedly coached operators on how to rebrand their businesses legally, transforming into “BPOs” while continuing to run illegal gaming operations in secret.

Bamban POGO Philippines
Bamban POGO hub, Philippines

“It’s the phenomenon we are observing. No names have been given to us, but it’s clear that this is happening,” she said. “Let this serve as a warning: If you’re involved, you know who you are. Stop it now.”

Hontiveros emphasized the gravity of government officials violating the POGO ban, saying they could face heavier consequences for obstructing justice. She also called on local governments to stay vigilant against illegal POGO operations within their jurisdictions, warning that they too could face accountability for providing legal cover or failing to detect such activities.

“If the regulators and members of the executive mandated to enforce the law are the ones violating it, their accountability is even heavier,” she added.

While consulting her legal team on possible actions to address these issues, Hontiveros urged the public to remain vigilant and hold leaders accountable for any complicity in illegal POGO activities.

“This is not just a legal issue; it’s a question of who we trust to uphold the law. We cannot let this go unchallenged.”

Frank Schuengel
Frank Schuengel
Frank Schuengel is an online gambling industry veteran with over twenty years of experience in Europe and Asia. Equally at home in the Isle of Man and the Philippines, he started his career as a sports trader before setting up and running whole operations, and more recently focusing on the regulatory and licensing side of things in the worlds of fiat and crypto eGaming. When he is not writing about gambling topics, he can be found cycling around Manila and advocating sustainable transport solutions for a Philippines based mobility magazine.

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