'POGOs go micro, operating underground'

Despite the directive of President Marcos for them to cease operations, several Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) appear to be continuing their activities as "micro-units" operating underground, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said.

- JANVIC MATEO and MARK ERNEST VILLEZA

In an interview yesterday with "Storycon" on One News, PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio said they have monitored a lot of "legal" POGOS that have shifted to underground operations.

"They disintegrated into several micro-units, and now they have multiplied," he said.

"We're practically more than a year now (since we started our operations against POGOs)... and we're nowhere near 50 percent of our target," he added.

Marcos earlier ordered the closure of all POGOS, including the rebranded internet gaming licensees or IGLs, by the end of the year.

According to Casio, all work visas or employment permits issued to foreigners working in POGOS or IGLS expired last Tuesday.

"There should be no one working in the IGL as of today. What they should be doing is winding down," he said. "They should be using the 59 days given to them by the Bureau of Immigration to sell whatever properties they have, to buy their tickets (to leave the country) – basically to settle their affairs.”

But based on their monitoring, Casio said many POGOs are still operating.

“This goes to show how big the problem is,” he added, citing recent operations conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“We are currently doing case buildup. In the next few days, we will continue (with our operations) … All POGOs should be closed down,” said the PAOCC official.

Several foreign financiers are also still in the Philippines, said Casio, citing the recent arrest of POGO kingpin Lin Xunhan, alias Lyu Dong, who was arrested in Biñan, Laguna last week.

“We are looking at four who are still here in the Philippines,” said Casio.

Biñan IGL shut down