By Junex Doronio
MANILA – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) on Thursday (13 June 2024) revealed that some 250 Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) that were not granted licenses by the country’s gaming regulator may have gone “underground” or have links with criminal syndicates.
This came on the heels of Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.’s statement that the POGOs now pose a national security concern.
“Ang problema po talaga, hindi yung mga licensees ng Pagcor, kundi yung humigit kumulang siguro 250 dyan na mga hindi na napagkalooban ng lisensya muli ay patuloy pa rin ang kanilang paghahanapbuhay na ilegal,” PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said in an interview on TeleRadyo.
PAGCOR noted that unlicensed POGOs include the hub in Porac, Pampanga, where authorities recently found suspected illegal drugs, alleged Chinese army uniforms, and evidence of supposed torture and scam operations.
“They’re involved not in gaming activities, but puro po criminal activities,” Tengco clarified.
Pagcor earlier argued that authorities “do not need to outlaw POGOs.”
“What we need to do is intensify anti-crime operations against suspected alien hackers, against scammers and cyber-criminals who are usually hiding in highly secured buildings and compounds,” Tengco recently said.
He further noted that only 46 POGOs are licensed and have rebranded as “internet gaming licensees” or IGLs.
The PAGCOR top honcho said most of them are located in Metro Manila.
“Wala pong licensed POGO hub na katabi ng any military camp… Maliwanag po ‘yan ilegal na naman ‘yung sinasabing hubs na nakadikit sa military hubs,” Tengco said.
However, he bared that three licensed POGOs were recently suspended.
“‘Yung tatlo po naramdaman namin na mayroon ding gawaing hindi nauukol sa…ilalim ng mga bagong regulasyon ng Pagcor,” Tengco said.
(el Amigo/mnm)
