The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has revoked the accreditation of a POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) service provider in Clark, Pampanga, due to illegal activities. The facility was raided and subsequently closed in 2023.
During a Senate inquiry into POGOs on Wednesday, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco emphasized that while he cannot guarantee the elimination of illegal activities, the regulator will take steps to curb such activities by banning POGO hubs and increasing monitoring of the 43 companies holding offshore gaming licenses (Internet Gaming Licensees – IGLs).
“We’re coming out with certain guidelines. We’re already banning hubs,” Tengco said.
“In the meantime, there is no order for closure but I can inform everybody that we will not allow any hub existing or going to be applied for. We will not approve it anymore because we want [IGLs] to be site specific and building specific.”
The concept of stand-contained POGO hubs was introduced in 2019 under the previous PAGCOR administration. At the time, the regulator suggested that these hubs would simplify POGO regulation and reduce interactions between Chinese workers and local Filipinos.
However, these hubs have become highly controversial following a series of raids and reports of illegal activities. The most recent raid occurred at a Pampanga hub last month, which was allegedly connected to human trafficking. According to Tengco, PAGCOR will establish 24-hour teams to monitor their IGL agreements.
“Hopefully that can deter, hopefully if we notice anything, we can immediately report it to the police,” he said.
“But it’s difficult for me to say in this hall and in front of everyone here that this will be the last [incident] because if there is really a criminal intent, then I can no longer monitor it.”
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