The Cebu City government has said that it is actively complying with the directive from Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla to crack down on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) posing as legitimate businesses.
Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia emphasized the city’s proactive stance, noting that Cebu City had already established a dedicated task force to address the issue even before Remulla’s recent order. The task force, led by the Cebu City Police Office, has been conducting inspections to identify any establishments involved in illicit POGO activities.
“Long before Secretary Remulla’s order, we already created a task force with the Cebu City Police Office at its front in the campaign against POGO in territory. So far, we have not monitored any,” Garcia stated.
The mayor reported that the task force has inspected various establishments with business models similar to POGOs, such as those operating under the guise of legitimate enterprises. However, no irregularities have been detected thus far.
Despite these findings, Garcia acknowledged the possibility that some establishments might be concealing illegal POGO operations behind legitimate fronts. To address this, he highlighted the importance of ramping up intelligence efforts in collaboration with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“As a local government unit under the direct supervision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we should strengthen our intelligence gathering with the help of the NBI and the PNP,” Garcia said.
During a Commission on Appointments hearing on Nov. 21, DILG Secretary Remulla called on local chief executives across the country to intensify their monitoring of business establishments to ensure they are not being used as fronts for illegal POGO or scam hub operations.
Remulla pointed out that some POGOs have resorted to applying for permits as resorts or restaurants to disguise their illegal activities. He urged local governments to remain vigilant and conduct regular inspections to put an end to these schemes.
Mayor Garcia reaffirmed Cebu City’s commitment to supporting national efforts to curb illegal gaming operations. He stressed the city’s obligation to safeguard its communities from the potential social and economic harms associated with POGO-related activities.
“While we have not found evidence of POGO operations in Cebu City, we remain vigilant. Our local police and task force are focused on identifying any illegal hubs that may be operating in secret,” Garcia said.
Cebu City’s proactive measures and commitment to intelligence-driven enforcement reflect a broader effort to align local governance with national directives to address illegal gaming and scam operations across the country.
