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The Department of Justice said the Philippines no longer has any Philippine offshore gaming operator hubs operating in the country, following a government crackdown that has effectively shut down the sector. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the move reflects the state’s firm policy of ending all POGO operations nationwide.
Government Says Closures Are Complete
Vida told reporters that the intensified enforcement campaign led to the closure of 80% of operational hubs within just 1 month of the official deadline. He said there are no official POGOs left in the country and added that there are no illegal POGOs either, stressing that the government’s position is clear: no POGO operations will be allowed in the Philippines.
The DOJ said the crackdown has reached a point where the remaining areas that once hosted POGO operations have been cleared. According to Vida, the enforcement measures put in place by authorities have ensured compliance and ended the legal operation of such hubs across the country.
Monitoring Still Continues
Even with the sector declared shut down, the DOJ said monitoring has not stopped. Authorities said they will continue watching for any possible illegal POGO activity, showing that the government still expects to act on unauthorized operations if they appear.
From the perspective of the department, even though official hubs have been closed, enforcement will continue in the event that some groups decide to engage in their operations underground. According to the government, it will react appropriately in cases where such illegal activities are reported.
Policy Tied To Security Concerns
The closing of POGOs is just one of the many policies implemented by the government to safeguard the community against possible occurrences of transnational crimes. The government justified its action by citing security and economic concerns surrounding the industry.
Vida’s remarks framed the shutdown as part of a wider national effort to remove the legal basis for offshore gaming operations in the Philippines. With the latest actions in place, authorities say the policy has now been carried out in full and that the country is no longer hosting official POGO hubs.
Enforcement Remains The Priority
For now, the DOJ is presenting the country as POGO-free, but it is also making clear that the issue is not being ignored. The continued monitoring indicates that the government wants to prevent any return of unauthorized activity after the shutdown.
The department’s message is that the ban is not just symbolic, but backed by active enforcement. With official operations closed and remaining sites cleared, the government says it has reached its goal of ending POGO hubs nationwide while keeping watch for anything that may surface in the future.
Source: Manila Times
