KEY stakeholders from various government agencies and local government units (LGUs) convened on Saturday, July 20, 2024, in a bid to combat issues related to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogo), scam farms, and business permitting challenges. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. presided over coordination meetings in Clark, Pampanga, and Camp Crame in Quezon City, which was attended by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil, along with police unit commanders and local chief executives.
Abalos emphasized the important role of LGUs in regulating and overseeing Pogo operations, especially in ensuring compliance with legal standards, safeguarding public welfare, and combating illicit activities within their jurisdictions. On the orders of the DILG, LGUs conducted inventories on online gaming establishments in their areas to check for possible illegal activities. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation earlier said that of the nearly 300 Pogos in 2023, only 46 were given renewed licenses to operate due to the “illegal activities” of the others.
“’Yan ang naging tinatawag natin scam farm. Bubunga ng mga illegal activities at kumalat..
. Hindi na natin aantayin na magraid pa o may mangyari pa sa isang lugar. Ating iisa-isahin na ang mga establishment on the ground.
Uunahin natin mga suspected [establishments],” Abalos. (That’s what we call a scam farm. It arises f.