A gradual phaseout of illegal offshore gaming operators rather than a blanket ban has been mooted as a more effective means of tackling the Philippine POGO crisis, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Dr Winston Casio pushed the idea at a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday, suggesting that a gradual phasing out and implementation of a transitional mechanism would be the most effective means of eradicating the POGO scam farms.
“Before we direct ourselves to a discussion on total ban, we could probably revisit discussions of phaseout,” said Casio, although he noted that such decisions were not his to make.
Nevertheless, he pointed out that there are currently only 42 POGOs operating legally in the Philippines today, while potentially many more illegal operations are continuing elsewhere.
“If there are some in Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol all the way to Mindanao and Central Visayas, then all of those are illegal,” Casio said.
“A good number of them have gone underground.”
Meanwhile, House Speaker Martin Romualdez has ordered a congressional probe into the reported criminal activities linked with such POGOs, including money laundering, human trafficking and other related offenses allegedly committed by illegal POGOs.
“We cannot allow rogue POGO operators to persist in their illicit actions,” Romualdez said Friday. “It is imperative that we identify and unmask the masterminds and protectors behind these operations so they can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“Ensuring the protection of local communities and individuals affected by the illegal activities of rogue POGO operators is crucial.”
The inquiry would, he added, also analyze the effectiveness of current regulations and identify any gaps that allow such operations to evade authorities, according to Philippine News Agency.
“This is not just about enforcing the law. It’s about safeguarding our nation’s economic stability and protecting our citizens from the harmful effects of criminal enterprises,” Romualdez said.
