Philippines Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla claims that most drug syndicates in the country were linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
Speaking to local media on Tuesday, the official said many of these syndicates, operating between 2016 and 2025, were led by Chinese nationals, underscoring the sector’s alleged ties to organized crime.
“Those POGOs have become a plague on the Philippines. Every illegal activity from 2016 up to 2025 is due to POGOs,” he claimed, adding that authorities believe “almost all the syndicates” apprehended were led by individuals who entered the country using visas tied to offshore gaming operations.
The remarks come more than one year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a full ban on POGOs, effective in 2025, following mounting concerns over links to scams, human trafficking, and other criminal activities.
Remulla made the comments during an event in Trece Martires City, where authorities oversaw the destruction of PHP4.56 billion ($81.5 million) worth of seized drugs.
Despite the crackdown, POGOs had previously a notable contributor to the economy. At their peak between 2017 and 2019, offshore gaming operators generated billions of pesos in government revenue through licensing fees, taxes, and related activities, while also driving demand in the office and residential leasing sectors.
POGOs, introduced in 2016 under Duterte’s administration, initially expanded rapidly before facing growing scrutiny over compliance issues and alleged criminal links, culminating in their nationwide ban.
